§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the recommendations of the Cockcroft committee report, "Mathematics Counts," showing by each what action has been taken by the Government since the report was published in January 1982; and if he will make a statement about the Government's further intentions on the recommendations contained in this report.
§ Sir Keith JosephMy hon. Friend set out the principal steps taken by the Government in response to the Cockcroft report in his reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 16 November 1983, at columns452–53. The measures described in that reply are being carried forward as appropriate in response to the conclusions of the report, which does not contain a list of recommendations as such.
During discussion of the Education (Grants and Awards) Bill the Government have referred to action to improve the teaching of mathematics along the lines proposed by the report as a possible area for inclusion within the scope of education support grants; and I have in addition recently agreed to support the production by the Open University of video material showing good practice in the teaching of mathematics to lower-attaining pupils in secondary schools. We shall continue to play our part in disseminating and encouraging the implementation of the report's conclusions.