NO - Pete Lowenstein, development officer, National Youth Agency
The figures indicate that the vast majority stick to the conditions of the allowance meaning approximately 300,000 engage in education post-16 who otherwise may not have. It is a crucial element in making Government targets for keeping under 19's in education achievable. Many of us feel it needs to be enhanced because it's quite low and involves means testing parents. The fact it is not paid directly to young people can be difficult if there is any family conflict.
YES - Emla Fitzsimons, research economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies
The aim of this policy is to increase participation in post-compulsory secondary education. If people are taking the money but not attending school then clearly it's failing. There have to be conditions built in to ensure people who receive the money do go to school, otherwise it's giving free money to children to do as they want. Without certain conditions attached some people might go to school anyway, but others would take the cash and not go to school.
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