Secondly, the eligibility criteria must be addressed and expanded. Too many young people are being locked out of support that they desperately need. The thresholds have largely remained unchanged since 2011, meaning that inflation hasn't been taken into account. This has resulted in learners today needing to be poorer than learners back in 2011 in order to be able to claim. Again, the Bevan Foundation calculated that the threshold for eligibility should now be £4,000 higher after accounting for inflation and that, the real-terms reduction in eligibility thresholds, has meant that the number of learners accessing EMA has consistently fallen. Overall, it has fallen from roughly 30,000 learners in receipt in 2013 and 2014 to roughly 20,000 in 2018 and 2019. Previously, the Welsh Government has said that this has been due to demographic changes, but the logic doesn't follow. Although the number of 16 and 18-year-olds has fallen by 8 per cent, the number of EMA recipients has reduced by a third. A common message heard often is how children from low-income households are unable to afford food in the canteen or relevant learning materials, yet they're not eligible for EMA.

Finally, real concerns have been expressed to me by education providers relating to the complexity and lack of awareness of the application process. I have to take a moment to thank the team at Bridgend College, who consistently made this point, in particular Carys Swain, who has been a fantastic advocate for learners within the college. The process of applying itself is locking out students, and this again came across in research conducted by the Bevan Foundation, as well as being recognised by the Welsh Government in its 2014 review of EMA. Colleges and schools are, of course, doing their best to refer, but it's challenging. There are a lot of learners who are unaware that they are entitled to EMA.

So, what am I asking for? What is the purpose of this debate? What I want from the Government in the first instance—. And of course I recognise that the Welsh Government's budget is limited and things will only get tougher, but what I want is an assurance that EMA is a priority for this Government, and that, when the funding is available in the Minister's portfolio, EMA is one of those policy areas that is at the top of the list. What I would also ask is that the Minister reviews EMA, not only relating to the payment but also the eligibility criteria and the application process, and that the Government steps up its entitlement awareness campaign amongst young learners.

Dirprwy Lywydd, every Member in this Chamber right now is here because they know how important EMA is to the success of a learner from a low-income household. Coming back to the original question as to what is the purpose of EMA, 'Could participation, achievement, be raised through directly addressing the financial problems faced by kids from low-income households?' Well, it was; the evidence is there for people to see. But unfortunately it's falling short. I know the Minister takes these concerns seriously. I know the Government does as well. But what we need now, more than ever, is action.