§ Sir Gilbert Longdenasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made by the committee which she set up to inquire into the teaching of reading in schools and the use of the English language.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe committee and sub-committees have held numerous meetings, and evidence has been received from over 400 individuals and organisations. Questionnaires on teaching organisation 267W and methods were sent early this year to a large sample of primary and secondary schools and replies to these are currently being analysed. An extensive programme of visits to schools is being conducted and, later in the year, visits will be made to colleges of education and to reading and language centres. Sub-committees are giving specific attention to reading, language, initial and in-service training of teachers, monitoring and to primary and secondary schools.