Numeracy and Literacy (Hansard, 23 January 2001)

§ Mr. Wicks

[holding answer 16 January 2001]: In 1998 a Basic Skills Agency 'benchmarking' survey provided estimates of literacy and numeracy rates in England by region. This identified three attainment groups, all of

Percentage
Literacy	Approaching level 1 (Minor difficulties)	Between entry and level 1 (Significant difficulties)	Below entry (Serious difficulties)	Total with poor skills
East of England	14.7	4.0	3.6	22.2
East Midlands	15.4	4.6	4.4	24.4
London	13.4	4.6	4.9	22.9
North East	16.3	5.4	5.4	27.2
North West	15.7	5.1	4.9	25.6
South East	14.5	3.7	3.4	21.6
South West	15.2	3.7	3.5	22.4
West Midlands	15.7	5.1	5.1	25.9
Yorkshire and Humber	15.9	5.1	5.0	25.9
National average	15	5	4	24

Percentage
Numeracy	Group A (low)	Group B (lower)	Group C (very low)	Total with poor skills
East of England	11.0	6.3	4.6	21.8
East Midlands	12.3	7.1	5.6	25.0
London	10.7	6.6	5.8	23.0
North East	13.3	8.3	6.8	28.4
North West	12.6	7.6	6.2	26.5
South East	10.5	6.0	4.4	20.8
South West	10.7	6.8	5.3	22.7
West Midlands	12.8	7.7	6.4	26.9
Yorkshire and Humber	12.7	7.8	6.3	26.7
National average	12	7	5	24

Note:

Small errors of ±0.1 per cent. may exist due to rounding

The international adult literacy surveys published as "Adult Literacy in Britain" (1997) and "Adult Literacy in Northern Ireland" (1998), used a different methodology to provide data for adults of working age (16–65) who are at level 1 or below for literacy and numeracy. These show that levels of literacy and numeracy were, England (21 per cent. to 23 per cent.), respectively Wales (24 per cent. to 25 per cent.), Scotland (23 per cent. to 24 per cent.) and Northern Ireland (24 per cent. to 25 per cent.).

Since these surveys were carried out new standards for basic skills have been published by the QCA that establish equivalencies between basic and key skills. A key element of our new national strategy for basic skills, which will be launched in February, is a new baseline survey based on these standards that will provide us with a clearer understanding of the challenge we face to raise the levels of adult literacy and numeracy.