§ Dr. FrancisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress he has made towards the targets for adult learning announced in March 1999 as part of the national learning targets for 2002 [82889]
§ Mr. MilibandOn November 13 this year, we announced that the National learning target for adult participation had been met. The announcement was made on the occasion of the publication of the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey (ALALFS)2001–02.
In 1999, the government set a target of increasing adult participation in learning (as measured by the National Audit Learning Survey (NALS) from 74 per cent. in 1997 to 76 per cent. in 2002.
The NALS 2002 survey found that 76.4 per cent. of adults had taken part in learning activities recognised by NALS over the last three years. Thus the target has been met; and it is confirmed by this year's Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey. The target applies to adults living in England aged 16–69 outside continuous full-time education.
The following table summarises the findings from recent surveys of learning which used the NALS definition. The same questions were asked in the NAL did not accept proxy interviews and had a lower response rate.
Survey name Date of fieldwork Learning participation Per cent NALS 2002 January 2002-June 2002 76.4 ELLFS 2001 March 2001-February 2002 76.0 NALS 2001 January 2001-May 2001 75.6 ELLFS 2000 March 2000-February 2001 74.2 NALS 1997 March 1997-April 1997 73.8