TheNavigator, it sounds like you feel the same way I did when I realised that VTR2 had been disbanded. It was one benefit of being 30+. I too looked at the Individual Learning Account system and indeed now have one! But what is it worth? I have yet to find the answer to that one.
Not wanting to get political but the removal of the Tax relief is discourages personal development, something that was well touted in the "education education education" blah.
So tax relief has gone - we get over that.
ILA's are here - they specifically ban "flying lessons" so I accept that the government won't hire the aircraft and instructor but are you sure that it really bans "Pilot Training". ie ground based theory, exam fees etc toward a commercial licence?
The other problem is finding a training establishemnet that:
1) Has heard of ILA's
2) Has done anything about it to enable you to get a discount.
Has anyone used an ILA to any effect in the aviation world?
Is it not in the interests of the ground schools to make their expensive training courses accessible to more punters? Even if it is a "mere £150" I recall a few years ago almost every advert had some mention of NVQ discount but today there is no mention of ILAs.