Innumeracy (Hansard, 10 July 1986)

§ Mr. Walden

A survey conducted in 1981 by Social Surveys (Gallop Polls) Ltd. which tested the numeracy skills of a sample of the adult population suggested that 10 per cent. could not handle simple addition. Higher percentages had difficulty with more complex tasks. This survey also found young adults to be the most able group, and the national child development study survey of 1981 found that 5 per cent. of the 23-year-olds asked said that they had had numeracy problems since leaving school.

The Government have accepted that low attaining pupils have special needs where mathematics is concerned. The Department of Education and Science is funding three major research projects related to low attainers and mathematics at a cost of £1 million over a six-year period. We have also made available to all local education authorities training material designed to promote good practice in teaching mathematics to low attaining pupils. The Department of Education and Science and the Welsh Office jointly fund the adult literacy and basic skills unit to help develop provision to overcome numeracy problems amongst adults. The provision of basic skills tuition for adults remains one of our highest priorities. Grant has been raised from £360,000 in 1979–80 to £2,170,000 in 1986–87 — a sixfold increase. Projects have considered the numeracy levels required to meet the everyday functional needs of adults, as well as the skills required for vocational training entry tests. Developments in new approaches to provision have succeeded in attracting many people who have previously not sought help with their numeracy problems.

Policies to combat numeracy problems in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.