§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will introduce the national arrangements for issuing individual learning accounts; who is the contractor selected; how many people have applied to individual TECs and remain on a waiting list; and what criteria will be applied for entitlements, including those in connection with transport and child care costs. [120833]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 8 May 2000]: I can answer most of the hon. Member's question by referring him to the replies I have given to the previous parliamentary questions of 3 April and 4 May 2000, Official Report, columns 295W and 196W respectively.
Our latest figures show that in England, over 117,000 accounts had been opened by the end of March 2000. This is against a UK target of 100,000 accounts opened by April 2000, and we are on track to achieve the target of 1 million accounts opened in the lifetime of this Parliament.
I am pleased to announce that the Department has issued a letter of intent to Capita Group to start the development of these services under the national framework.
From April, we have been offering 80 per cent. discounts for computer literacy courses through Further Education colleges in England. Anyone aged 19 or over can open a learning account and claim the incentives. When deciding eligibility for the incentives, we will take into account the type of learning people plan to undertake and any Government financial support they already get for their chosen learning. Child care and transport costs will not be eligible for the incentives.