ABSTRACT
Two key goals of urban policy are to stimulate the economic development of depressed areas and to target training and employment measures on people who are disadvantaged in local labour markets. The National Commission on Education (1993) emphasised the importance of raising general standards of education and training if the UK is to improve, or even maintain, its economic position in the world economy. The Commission identified as an urgent task tackling disadvantages caused by deprivation, gender, race, disability and geography which prevent large numbers of people realising their potential at school, in employment and in terms of personal and social development.
