§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make further provision for retraining unemployed people between the age of 25 years and normal retirement age. [62781]
§ Mr. MudieThe Government recognise the importance of the role played by training in helping unemployed adults back to work.
At present, learning by unemployed adults is supplied through Work Based Learning for Adults; the training option of New Deal 25+ which was introduced nationally from June 1998; further education; and the Single Regeneration Budget.
The Government continue to keep training for unemployed adults under review and is testing new ways in which training can be delivered in the future. These initiatives include the 25+ New Deal pilots which commenced in November, Employment Zones, Individual Learning Accounts and the University for Industry. Results from these are being carefully evaluated and those approaches we find most effective will be applied widely.
The future development of Work Based Learning for Adults is being considered as part of the TEC Review.