§ 5. Mr. Gerald HowarthWhat plans he has to enforce standards of basic literacy in schools. [29882]
§ The Minister for School Standards (Mr. Stephen Byers)Literacy is at the heart of our drive to raise standards. By the end of this Parliament, we expect 80 per cent. of 11-year-olds to reach the standard expected for their age in English. We have made the curriculum more flexible and reduced bureaucracy so that primary schools can focus on the basics, and we have allocated £59 million to support literacy in 1998–99.
§ Mr. HowarthThe Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Howarth), was speaking a moment ago about sinners who repent. We greatly welcome the fact that, at long last, the sinners in the Labour party are repenting of their failure to acknowledge the importance of the three Rs in providing our children with the basic ability to compete in the world. We appreciate what the Minister has done, but why has it taken so long? After all, 482 the Labour party has been in charge of delivering education at local level across much of the country. What is the Minister doing to ensure that our teacher training colleges understand the importance of the three Rs, especially literacy, in their curriculum?
§ Mr. ByersWe have changed the initial teacher training curriculum so that teachers are taught how to help children read. The hon. Gentleman might like to reflect on the legacy that we inherited whereby one in four 11-year-olds failed to reach the expected level in English. He should give some thought to what is happening in his local education authority area. Hampshire, I am pleased to say, has agreed that, by the end of this Parliament, 88 per cent. of 11-year-olds will have reached the required level.
The hon. Gentleman might also thank the Government on behalf of the schools in Aldershot which, as a result of an announcement made three weeks ago, will have 8,000 new school books this financial year. That is an example of the Government not just talking about raising standards, but providing the resources to ensure that it happens.
§ Mr. ClaphamAlthough I understand that there is a need to improve literacy standards, does my hon. Friend agree that there is a place for the creative arts? Will he consider what might be done in the future to ensure that the creative arts are included on a wider basis in education?
§ Mr. ByersMy hon. Friend makes a very important point. Indeed, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has established a creative arts curriculum group which will report on how we can develop the non-basics in the primary curriculum. However, we have to get the basics of reading and writing in place before young people can benefit from the creative arts.