The Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett has announced details of a boost in spending for 16-19 year olds learning in 2000/1, comprising £15 million for capital expenditure and £18 million for recurrent funding.

The cash will be allocated through the FE Standards Fund in proportion to the numbers of 16-19 students in a college. This will support colleges in setting targets for improved examination performance."

Mr Blunkett also announced the areas to which Education Maintenance Allowances would be extended, following the allocation of an extra £50 million to the programme in the Budget. The allowances, worth up to £30 per week, will now be made available to another 75,000 teenagers.

The money will be spent in an additional 40 areas which will be eligible for Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) from this September. It means that some 30% of 16 year olds, nearly 100,000 in total, will be in areas eligible for EMAs.

Blunkett said: "We are giving lifelong learning the resources needed to make a difference. Compared to 1998-99, we have injected £255m into further education this year, a further £215m next year and a further £365m for 2001-02. More money to raise standards. More money to widen participation. More money to modernise equipment and buildings. Money which will bring the total funding for FE colleges from £3.1 billion in 1998-99 to nearly £3.9 billion in 2001-02, an 8% increase in real terms over 2000-01 and a 16% increase in real terms over 1998-99."