§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of adults resident in England whose knowledge of the English language is less than adequate for everyday purposes; and what methods does her Department encourage to overcome this problem.
§ Mr. Oakes:There is insufficient information available to enable my Department to make an estimate of this kind. Where it is a matter of teaching English as a second language to adults, the Department encourages a range of approaches, including adult and further education classes and home tuition schemes provided by local education authorities; in company language training schemes; initiatives by voluntary organisations, often directed towards reaching adults in their homes; and radio and television programmes.