MPs quizzed by over 500 angry adult learners

 UCU is founding member of the CALL campaign set up in response to the loss of 1.4m learning places across England in the last three years.
 
Secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, John Denham, gave a defence of government policy, as CALL supporters displayed their passion and commitment for adult learning in a question and answer session with the minister. Conservative Shadow Skills Secretary David Willetts MP and Liberal Democrat Shadow Skills Secretary Stephen Williams MP were also quizzed on their parties' policies and former Education Secretary David Blunkett MP addressed the lobby.
 
CALL supporters questioned John Denham over the government's policy to prioritise funding for adult learners on employer-led, work-based learning. UCU has argued that such a narrow focus has sidelined a broad range of other adult education courses, which have either closed or been forced to raise fees - leading to the loss 1.4m publicly-funded adult learner places since 2005.
 
UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said, 'UCU was delighted at the tremendous turn out at the CALL lobby. It was great that so many people made the journey to Westminster to support the campaign and engage in such robust debate with their MPs. We are particularly pleased that the minister was able to get a clear picture first hand of the passion there is for adult education. Given the current recession, and imminent publication of the white paper on informal adult learning, UCU looks forward to working with the government in helping to champion lifelong learning.'