In a recent report for the Institute of Public Policy Research, Tony Millns argues that Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) in their present form are not user-friendly enough for those who really need to access funding for training.

In the report, Millns examines the background to individuals investment in training, citing the Commission on Social Justice as responsible for the idea of a `learning bank' of funds for lifelong learning.

SWA Consulting's evaluation of the pilot ILAs concluded that although it was possible to access `non-learners' through the system, it was time-consuming and resource-intensive to do so.

Several possible solutions are proposed to the system due to be rolled out, including making the accounts more `active' by using them to pay for futher and higher education.

A more radical plan is to use ILAs as a form of personal investment, which could be borrowed form or invested in like a savings account. Tony Milln says this Personal Development Account could be based on an individual's lifetime earnings and savings - maybe a set part of pay is set aside for it.

The full report can be obtained for £10 from Central Books on 020 8986 5488.