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Individual Learning Accounts (discounts of up to 80% on course
fees, and other incentives for certain types of learning to
boost recruitment targets and address skill needs) came into
operation across England on 1 September 2000, following their
inclusion in the learning and skills bill. Individual Learning
Account schemes were subsequently created in Scotland, Wales,
and Northern Ireland. They were targeted at people who wanted
to improve their basic literacy, maths and technology skills
up to national vocational level 2. Complaints of misuse and
fraud resulted in all the ILA programmes across the United
Kingdom being closed, with Wales and Scotland eventually redeveloping
the scheme.
In October 2001 the English Government announced that the
English Individual Learning Accounts would be discontinued
after little more than a year in existence amidst extensive
allegations of fraud within the program, and its predominant
use by those individuals already well qualified and skilled.
Government officials claimed a new, revamped scheme would
be developed for to replace the Individual Learning Accounts
programme. The programme officially closed November 23rd,
2001.
In July 2003 Labour skills strategy White Paper released Realising
Our Potential, proposing that rather than replicate the former
Individual Learning Accounts scheme, new Level 2 entitlement
would provide an inducement to learning for those individuals
who would not have otherwise considered further developing
their skills. For those within a certain income bracket there
would be entitlement to free level 2 tuition, as well as an
entitlement for free level 3 tuition in regions or industrial
sections with skills shortages. The scheme was also planned
to provide a £30 a week maintenance grant to support adults
without level 2 qualifications and people aged 19-30 without
level 3 qualifications. There would also be new safeguards
against fraud within the scheme. However, no replacement for
England's ILA programme has been officially reinstated.
For more information on the ILA programme in England, visit
www.dfes.gov.uk/ila/.
Scotland's original Individual Learning Accounts scheme was
closed following the end of England's ILA programme in November
2001, which like England's suffered under allegations of fraud
and failure for the program to reach the underskilled individuals
the programme was designed to assist.
Three years later in January 2004, Scottish officials announced
the creation of a new Individual Learning Accounts scheme,
known as ILA Scotland in the attempt to differentiate from
English and Welsh ILA programmes. ILA Scotland offers adult
learners over the age of eighteen earning £15,000 or less
have the opportunity to get up to £200 or up to £100 towards
courses if income exceeds £15,000. To protect against past
problems of fraud, the scheme uses the Student Awards Agency
of Scotland and the Scottish University for Industry as safeguards.
For more information, call 0808 100 10909 or visit www.ilascotland.org.uk.
Wales was the first in the United Kingdom to launch a new
Individual Learning Accounts program after closing the original
in 2001, just one month after the closure of the English scheme.
The new Welsh ILA's are developed for use by the most needy
Welsh adult learners. Students at level 2 or below receiving
income support or Job Seekers' Allowance are eligible for
a maximum payment of £200. Discounts are also available, depending
on benefits received and the previous learning attainment
of the student.
For more information, visit www.ilawales.org.uk
or call 0800 900 100.
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