§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have taken advantage of individual learning accounts in(a) the UK, (b) Teesside Region and (c) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [131209]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 18 July 2000]: From April 1999 to the end of April 2000 a total of 125,992 accounts had been opened through Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs). The national framework for Individual Learning Accounts became partly operational on 12 June 2000 since when an additional 8,000 Individual Learning Accounts have been opened with the national Individual 302W Learning Accounts Centre. Tees Valley TEC have opened 4,682 Individual Learning Accounts of which 840 are held by people in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency.
By April 2001 we aim to have 500,000 Individual Learning Accounts opened rising to a million by April 2002.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to promote Individual Learning Accounts; and if he will make a statement. [131208]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 18 July 2000]: Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) have been available locally through Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England and Wales since April 1999 and have therefore been promoted locally. A national framework for learning accounts has now been developed and a part service, where individuals and learning providers can register for the initiative, has been available since 12 June 2000. The national framework, operating a full service in England, will replace local accounts with effect from 4 September 2000. A total of 125,992 accounts have been opened through TECs by the end of April 2000 with a further 8,000 under national arrangements.
Since April this year officials from my Department have held more than 30 events with public and private learning providers to promote the introduction of the national framework. In addition, more than 750,000 leaflets setting out details of the national framework have been distributed since the part-service became operational in June. The leaflets have been sent to public and private learning providers, advice centres, partner organisations and members of the public. The Individual Learning Account website also provides our partners with regular updates and marketing information. We will build on this initial promotional work over the coming months by working, for example, with employers and trade unions, to ensure that those people who will benefit most from Individual Learning Accounts get the information they need.