§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an inquiry into the teaching of reading in Scotland.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellMeasures to maintain and improve Scottish reading standards already include the initiation of a four-year research project on reading attainment, methods, and teacher training. My Department is also associated with the current production for teachers' use of a new series of reading tests for primary children which, by improving assessment will help to combat reading disabilities. A number of education authorities are conducting their own surveys into reading skills. I do not, therefore, consider an inquiry to be necessary.