§ Mr. Ryderasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce his response to the recommendations made by the adult literacy and basic skills unit for an extension to its current term after 1985 with an increased grant.
§ Mr. BrookeMy right hon. Friend has today written to the chairman of the adult literacy and basic skills unit agreeing to an extension to the unit's period of operation from April 1985. In future, the continuation of the unit will be regularly reviewed. Subject to that, its grant will be on the basis of a three-year rolling programme. The grant for the next three years will be £1.45 million in 1984–85, £1.8 million in 1985–86 and £2 million in 1986–87. The increase is in recognition of ALBSU's role in promoting basic education for the adult unemployed. We have agreed to the extension of the unit's remit to enable it to sponsor local development projects and to the making of small pump-priming grants by the unit to voluntary organisations to help them establish themselves.