Trade Union Learning Representatives can now take paid time off to advise fellow members on their training, educational and development needs, thanks to a legal entitlement which came into force over the weekend.

Commenting on the new rights, Department for Education and Skills Minister for Young People and Adult Skills, Ivan Lewis said: "Union Learning Representatives now have a statutory right to reasonable time off with pay to carry out their duties and undergo training themselves for the job. This is a significant step forward as evaluation has shown that they make a valuable impact in raising interest in training and development among both workers and employers.

"Unions have a vital role to play in promoting the development of learning and skills in the workplace. The new rights for these learning specialists will help to reinforce this role, boost their numbers and enable them to open up new learning opportunities to many thousands of workers who need them. By 2010 there could be as many as 22,000 in place helping over 250,000 workers a year back into learning. Union Learning Representatives are particularly effective in reaching low skilled workers and those with basic skills needs in literacy and numeracy - these are the very people who so often miss out on existing opportunities for training and development."