3.16 In many cases, but not all, simple and inexpensive remedies could be found, if only there were applied a judicious mixture of recognising the obstacles, determination to tackle them, and willingness to work in partnership. It will also require that support is given to those individuals and organisations whose particular skills lie in widening participation and that there is an explicit deployment of incentives and penalties to promote simplification, clarification and greater co-ordination of effort. As the recently published report A National Strategy for Lifelong Learning says, "a Learning Society worthy of its name would, amongst other qualities, show a proper respect for evidence and learn from its own mistakes" (Coffield, 1997).
3.17 The responsibility for tackling obstacles needs to be properly allocated and the necessary remedies set out by Government, other public bodies, educational providers, employers, trade unions and voluntary organisations. Those responsible for implementing improvements should be identified and held to account for achieving them. We make proposals for the ways in which this might be done later in our report.
3.18 All those with responsibility for education and training, including Government, should examine how far their practices and performance support or obstruct the development of lifelong learning for all. They should develop strategies to overcome obstructions which:
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