HC Deb 29 November 1977 vol 940 c174W
47. Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is yet able to bring forward specific proposals for improvement in the teaching of basic skills in English and mathematics in schools.

Miss Margaret Jackson

The recent Green Paper "Education in Schools" emphasises the importance the Government attach to literacy and numeracy. Her Majesty's Inspectorate, through the DES short-course programme and in co-operation with local authorities, continues to be engaged in a series of courses for teachers concerned with English and mathematics; in English many of these are based upon the findings of the Bullock Report. In the current academic year, the Government have launched special programmes to promote the training of additional teachers of shortage subjects, of which mathematics is one.