The Prime Minister announced at the Labour Party conference that £400m would be made available from lottery funds for education and health projects.

This will include support for the National Grid for Learning, which will connect schools, colleges and libraries to the Internet and to online resource centres.

In particular the extra funds will support adults seeking to return to education, with money for online learning centres for the University for Industry, which will provide vocational training in high-tech skills.

Green spaces for children's play will be protected

The Culture Secretary, Chris Smith, also announced that lottery funds would be used to protect and acquire green spaces in cities, expecially where they can be used as play areas for children.

Another environmental measure to be supported from the extra funds will be projects to make it safer for children to cycle or walk to school, in an attempt to reduce school-run car trips.