HC Deb 06 November 1969 vol 790 cc1169-70
20. Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether those who are seeking employment who have not sufficiently mastered the skills of reading and writing and are thereby difficult to place in employment are helped by advice or in any other way by her department to improve their literate and linguistic competence ; whether the initial teaching alphabet is used or recommended to those concerned and to what extent it is used to improve their competence ; and whether she will will make a statement.

Mr. Dell

Limited competence in reading and writing is not necessarily an obstacle to satisfactory placing in employment. In the course of assisting people to find suitable work, my officers may, where appropriate and as part of their normal advisory work, give information about any available educational facilities. Particular teaching methods are a matter for those providing these facilities.

Mr. Tilney

Would the Minister examine the good work of the school boards of America, which have shown that the teaching of reading and writing to the illiterate can very much help the unemployment situation in certain areas? Will he also find out from his right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence the results of our army school preliminary education?

Mr. Dell

I an grateful to the hon. Gentlemen for that suggestion and I will look into the matter.