Lifelong learning is a key element of public and corporate employment policy and is beginning to focus on some of the main concerns identified from a growing body of research, such as how to widen participation. This review of adult learning policy and provision in England as at the end of the 20th century, summarizes the state of adult learning in terms of the institutional arrangements and policies, the extent of participation and factors influencing funding, the main issues facing policy-makers and the policies they have adopted and that are planned. It was prepared as a Background Report for the OECD's review of adult learning in a range of industrialised countries.