Education: Carers
5th June 2007
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) educational bodies and (b) carers' organisations on improving access and skills opportunities for unpaid carers; and if he will make a statement. [138770]
Phil Hope: Officials in the Department and in the Learning and Skills Council have discussed with Skills for Care, the Sector Skills Council for the care sector, how the national employer training programme in England, Train to Gain, could be made more relevant to the needs of employers and employees within the care sector, and are currently considering proposals.
In England, Train to Gain offers employers in all sectors easy access, via a free skills brokerage service, to a full range of training provision including fully subsidised training leading to a Skills for Life or first full level 2 qualification, such as a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 2.
From September 2006, all adults in England who do not have a full qualification at level 2 are entitled to free tuition to get one, even if they do not work for an employer who is involved with the Train to Gain programme. They can access this level 2 entitlement through their local further education college or a range of other publicly funded training providers. There is also an entitlement to free literacy and numeracy training.
