A new weapon has been launched in the Government's battle to equip people with the skills they need to get jobs in the Internet age.

learndirect, part of the flagship adult education scheme the University For Industry, is being extended to cover the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland after a two-year experiment.

Education Secretary David Blunkett called the network of hundreds of advice centres, a website and a helpline "a revolution in learning" and announced 10m will be spent on a fleet of special buses to spread the word.

learndirect and the university, under its brand name Ufi, is a key part of the Government's attempt to reduce the skills gap between large parts of the UK and its major competitors.

Earlier this year, a report by the National Skills Task Force concluded that seven million adults are functionally illiterate a figure that members said must fall for the sake of Britain's long-term economic interest.

learndirect is aimed at people who are already working, particularly staff at small businesses, to learn while they earn.

But Prime Minister Tony Blair stressed it was designed to help everybody improve their skills.

He said: "It will make it easier than ever before for people to learn online and learn at a time, place and pace which suits them.

"And businesses, particularly small firms, will be able to deliver flexible, relevant and convenient training to their employees."

The helpline 0800 100 900 recently took its two-millionth call.