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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what instructions he has given to (a) Learning and Skills Councils and (b) local education authorities regarding the provision of non- vocational community education; and if he will make a statement. [144626] Mr. Ivan Lewis: As set out in the Skills Strategy White Paper, "21st Century Skills Realising our Potential", in each local area the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for securing a full range of lifelong learning opportunities for adults suitable to meet local needs. Adult and Community Learning programmes will be seen as an integral part of the wider learning opportunities for the areas. To safeguard the availability of these types of learning, the Government and the LSC have agreed an overall indicative budget to support non-qualification bearing programmes. That budget covers, for example, family learning, learning for older people, active citizenship, community development, and learning through cultural activities. From within that national budget, the LSC will agree with local LSCs a minimum figure to spend on such learning activities. Each local LSC will now decide with its local partners-including local education authorities, colleges, community and voluntary groups-the priorities for spending those funds in order to maximise the civic, social and cultural gain for the area.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

144626; 416 c67W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Adult education Learning and skills councils Local education authorities Lifelong education Community education

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk