§ Mr. SimmondsT o ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Skills for Life strategy. [177377]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisWe are on track to meet our target of 750,000 adults with better basic skills by 2004 and will be reporting on progress towards this in the autumn. From April 2001 to July 2004, a projected 2.3 million learners will have taken up an estimated 4.6 million learning opportunities. We remain focused on achieving our PSA target of 1.5 million adults with better basic skills by 2007.
We continue to engage employers, public sector organisations and others in initiatives within the Skills for Life strategy. The Skilled for Health joint project with the Department of Health continues to help adults gain a better understanding of their own health as well as improving their basic skills. The Link Up project, co-funded with the Home Office, recruited 6,410 volunteers as Adult Learner Supporters. The Learning and Skills Council Skills for Life Quality Initiative has provided Leadership and Management Training to 1,310 staff, provided 1,200 people with funding for new teaching qualifications and trained 1,266 teachers in the basic skills Core Curriculum.
§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Skills for Life strategy has met its target of 750,000 adults to achieve a national certificate by 2004. [177380]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisWe are on track to meet our target of 750,000 adults with better basic skills by 2004 and will be reporting on progress towards this in the autumn. We remain focused on the achieving our PSA target of 1.5 million adults with better basic skills by 2007.