Two million fewer adults learning

More money is being put into apprenticeships

Fewer adults in England are benefiting from adult education classes, figures obtained by the Conservatives show.

In 2003-04 more than 5.1 million adults were on courses funded by the Learning and Skills Council, but by 2006-07 this had fallen to just over 3.1 million.

The Conservatives said hundreds of thousands were unable to gain skills.

But ministers say they are instead aiming resources at improving people's job prospects, rather than funding such things as lessons in holiday Spanish.

The figures showed a decline in adult classes across all regions of England.

In the South East, 223,100 fewer course places were taken up in 2006-07 than in 2003-04.

In the North West, there were 207,500 fewer people and in Greater London, there were 121,200 fewer.

'Wider benefits'

The shadow skills secretary, David Willetts, said the government had failed to prepare Britain for tough times whilst the economy had been growing.

David Willetts, MP Shadow Skills Secretary: 'This is a savage reduction'

"Ministers' obsession with paper-based qualifications has led to a reduction in the number of adults reskilling and up-skilling, which has contributed to the skills shortage we now face," said Mr Willetts.

"A better-skilled workforce is absolutely fundamental if we are to emerge from the recession in a competitive state.

"Learning also brings health and community benefits that can reduce the pressure on public spending in other areas."

The figures echo those produced in annual surveys by the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education.

'Holiday Spanish'

But the government says it has been refocusing funding away from many short courses onto higher quality ones which improve people's employability, including apprenticeships.

It was also requiring employers to pay for courses which were part of their responsibilities, such as health and safety and food hygiene.

"It is a decision that is backed by a huge increase in funding for further education - a 53% increase between 1997 and 2008.

"It was the right decision to take when it was made in recent years and it is even more important given the current economic climate.

"If David Willetts thinks it is better for funding to be directed to courses such as holiday Spanish rather than giving people real help to people now to get a job then he should say so.

"We make no apology for focusing government spending on real help for people who need it."