Introduction

1. The Learning Age (Cm 3790) (The Stationery Office, 1998) has been widely welcomed - by individuals, employers, trade unions and all those involved in providing people with opportunities to learn. The Government is grateful to everyone who took the time and trouble to comment on the Green Paper and has found the responses very helpful in the development of its lifelong learning policies.

2. The Green Paper set out the Government's vision for a learning society and a comprehensive set of proposals for lifelong learning for all. The Green Paper covered:

• the establishment of the University for Industry (UfI) and individual learning accounts;
• a major expansion of further and higher education;
• measures to widen participation in learning across society;
• proposals to raise standards across teaching and learning;
• learning in the workplace; and
• shared responsibilities and the importance of working in partnership.

3. There were about 3,000 thoughtful and constructive responses to the Green Paper from a wide range of interests, including some 2,000 from members of the public. The overwhelming majority of these responses was very positive. This shows the importance so many people - rightly - place on learning in society today.

4. Since The Learning Age was published, much has been achieved by the Government and its partners. These include schools, colleges, universities, local authorities, Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs), National Training Organisations (NTOs), careers service companies, community and voluntary organisations, companies and national organisations which share the vision of a 'learning society'.

5. The Government has committed substantial resources to the successful implementation of this programme of change. The firm foundations for building an inclusive learning society in the new Millennium are now in place. The responses to The Learning Age will help to build on these.