§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy to extend eligibility for individual learning accounts to include those aged 18 and studying part-time. [156669]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 2 April 2001]There are no current plans to change the age criteria for Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) which are available to anyone aged 19 or over. Account holders can use their ILAs for full or part-time courses as long as the learning is eligible for the ILA incentives. The vast majority of education and training is provided free to people aged under 19. Currently some people aged 18 have to pay for certain types of learning themselves. My Department has addressed this issue and from September of this year no 16 to 18-year-olds undertaking part-time learning will be charged tuition fees.