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date: 12 July 2010

embargo: For immediate release

Conservative Minister praises unionlearn

The first Conservative Minister to address a TUC conference since the mid-1990s has today (Monday) given a resounding endorsement of unionlearn - the TUC's learning and skills arm - describing it as an 'immense success'.

The Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning John Hayes said that unionlearn was a 'powerful tool' in improving the skills vital for economic growth and recovery.

Addressing delegates at unionlearn's annual conference he said: 'Unionlearn has an essential role to play in ensuring that workplace learning is delivered to a high standard, and that people know where they can go to get good quality learning.'

Also addressing the 400 delegates at TUC HQ in central London was Business Secretary Vince Cable, who said that while unions were feeling their way in how they should respond to the new Government, it was not the time to resort to 'tribal stereotypes'. He told TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber that he wanted to speak to him regularly.

Dr Cable said that unionlearn and the Union Learning Fund, which receives a grant from his department, were examples of 'a good story'. He said that he envisaged it playing an even greater role in improving the skills of the workforce, in adult education and apprenticeships.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

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Press release (400 words) issued 12 Jul 2010