The DfEE has published a document summarising the aims of Individual Learning Accounts and the progress made in their introduction so far. Both a short summary and whole document are available to read online.

From the summary -

"Learning is an investment. It helps people play a full part in society and can minimise the risk of unemployment. It boosts earning power. It can help build careers. We believe that in the years ahead many more people will want to set aside money to invest in a learning account, in just the same way as home ownership and personal pensions have grown enormously. Learning accounts will help people to do this and over time, funds flowing through learning accounts will make the learning market larger. Learning is an investment and we believe that responsibility for this should be shared. We announced a package of incentives for individual learning accounts in the Budget on 9 March, demonstrating the commitment from Government to back individual and employer investments.

Individual learning accounts will be one key element in our strategy for lifelong learning alongside the innovative UfI and the Scottish University for Industry. The strategy also includes more help for people out of work and for people with poor basic skills. The UfI will promote learning ranging from the basic skills of literacy and numeracy to specialised skills and business management. Individual learning accounts will help people take up the challenge of opportunities offered by the UfI."