Lifelong Learning Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has announced a £54 million boost to learning and careers advice services for adults through local learning partnerships.

Mr Wicks said:

"Plans for the development of local learning and careers services for adults have now been agreed with learning partnerships across the country. We are making £7m of new funding available to partnerships this year to support this work. A further £47m will be available over the next two years.

"People make important decisions about learning and work throughout their lives - not just when they leave school. Changes in the labour market and new technology mean that people will change careers more often and that all of us will have a constant need to upgrade our skills.

"The new local services will support adults in making sensible decisions about careers and in finding the kind of learning that is right for them. They will provide impartial advice about the direction people should take, as well as comprehensive information about the career and learning opportunities available locally. Approachable local services of this kind can be particularly important for people who lack confidence about returning to learn or changing career direction in adult life.

"The services will complement at local level the support already available through Learning Direct, the national learning and careers helpline.

"Between now and March 2000, local learning partnerships will focus mainly on building their capacity to deliver information and advice, particularly through smaller partners in the voluntary and community sectors. After that, they will concentrate on improving the present arrangements so that in every area, people have access to high quality services."

Delivery of local information and advice services is the responsibility of local learning partnerships, which draw together a wide range of local organisations including local authorities, careers services, employers and voluntary and community organisations