§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reason a resident of Herefordshire, with an approved individual learning account (reference 4001658711) who is studying `A' Level Welsh through Coleg Gwent, cannot transfer funding to study at a Welsh establishment; and if he will make a statement. [145436]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 15 January 2001]: Individual Learning Account holders are free to decide how and where they undertake their chosen learning. This includes using a learning provider in a country outside the one in which they currently live as long as the provider is registered with the Individual Learning Account Centre. Anyone living in England who wants to study 'A' level Welsh can use an Individual Learning Account to help pay for the course costs at a Welsh establishment as long as they have opened their Individual Learning Account before enrolling on the course.
Individual Learning Account incentives are made available in the form of a discount on the cost of learning and incentives cannot be claimed retrospectively once an individual has paid for and started their learning. We want Individual Learning Accounts to be used to encourage many new learners including those who will benefit most from the incentives.