§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding plans he has made to improve(a) levels of literacy and numeracy and (b) IT skills among the adult population of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East; and if he will make a statement. [131207]
§ Mr. Wicks[holding answer 18 July 2000]: Government support to improve adult basic skills in Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East includes funding for family learning, which supports programmes like 'Story Teller' and 'Computers Together'. Additional funding for family literacy and numeracy announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in May will mean that Middlesbrough LEA will receive funding for an additional 41 'Keeping up with the Children' courses, five 'Family Numeracy' courses, five 'Family Literacy' courses and 13 'Family Numeracy' workshops.
We recognise the importance of ensuring that there are opportunities for people of all ages to develop IT skills in areas such as Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East. 303W That is why we have provided £252 million nationally to fund ICT Learning Centres. Within the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East areas we have received one full application to establish two centres in the Skinningrove area, and three expressions of interest for later phases of the initiative.
The Government have already announced an additional £37 million nationally for improvements in the quality and range of adult basic skills provision, including family literacy and numeracy, over the past year. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment plans to announce later this year the Government's full strategy to help adults with poor basic skills.