Adult Learning (Hansard, 29 October 2003)

§ Mr. Boswell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned into communities which are under-represented in participation in adult learning. [134981]

§ Mr. Ivan Lewis
The Department has not commissioned research on geographical communities but has a number of research studies underway or recently completed that examine groups which are under-represented in adult learning.
Adult learning participation has been regularly researched through the National Adult Learning Survey of over 6,000 adults in England and Wales. The results from the most recent survey in 2002 were published by the Department in April this year. They include analysis of the barriers to learning that people face as well as their learning patterns and attitudes. A longitudinal follow-up to a sub sample of the respondents to the 2001 survey, called Pathways in Adult Learning 2003, will be published in spring 2004.
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A tracking survey of 2,000 learners who have participated in Adult and Community Learning is also underway. The research will analyse the characteristics and motivations of those who participate in such learning, and the longer term outcomes. The first sweep is underway, and results will be published in spring 2004.
The Department has commissioned evaluations of policies that help those under-represented in learning. The Adult and Community Learning Fund, set up in 1998 to support local community based adult learning, has regularly been evaluated. The most recent evaluation was published by the National Foundation for Educational Research in July 2002.
Adult Guidance Pilots, which ran until March 2003, provided advice and guidance on learning and work opportunities to people facing particularly difficult barriers, such as those with low or basic skills, ex-offenders and refugees. The results of the evaluation will be published early in 2004.

§ Mr. Boswell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangement he will make to monitor and develop the public strategy for widening adult educational participation. [134982]

§ Mr. Ivan Lewis
We will be monitoring and developing public strategy for widening adult educational participation through the implementation of the commitments set out in the White Paper21^st Century Skills, Realising Our Potential. In particular the new Skills Alliance of key Government Departments, economic partners and key delivery agencies is driving forward the Skills Strategy delivery plan. This includes work on the Learning and Skills Council's strategy, Successful Participation for All: Widening Adult Participation.

§ Mr. Boswell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking in conjunction with other Government departments and public bodies to support the Learning and Skills Council's strategy for widening adult participation. [134983]

§ Mr. Ivan Lewis
The Government fully supports the Learning and Skills Council's recently published strategy, Successful Participation for All: Widening Adult Participation. It has an important role to play in implementing the Skills Strategy. My Department is represented on the LSC's Widening Adult Participation Implementation Group along with representatives from Further Education Colleges, Local Authorities and other providers. The LSC is maintaining and developing partnerships with a wide range of Government Departments and Public Bodies in order to realise its long term vision for widening adult participation.