§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on co-ordination between the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Employment and other Departments on the implementation of Her Majesty's Government's policy to combat illiteracy.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government's policies for raising performance in schools in all areas of the curriculum, including the improvement of standards of literacy, are set out in the white paper "Better Schools". The Department of Education and Science works closely with other interested department's wherever appropriate on the initiative outlined in "Better Schools". At the adult level, the membership of the management committee of the adult literacy and basic skills unit provides for coordination between the Department of Education and Science, the Home Office and the Manpower Services Commission, and there is also informal day-to-day contact between the unit, the Department of Education and Science and other Government Departments. The unit is engaged in development projects in the literacy field in partnership with the Manpower Services Commission and other relevant agencies.