§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Paymaster General, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 11 February, Official Report, column 254, concerning a review of literacy and numeracy skills being undertaken by the Manpower Services Commission, when this review was started; what is the extent of this review; what resources are being used in this review; when he expects results of this review to be available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeIn December 1986 a working group was established within the Manpower Services Commission to 769W examine the extent of illiteracy among long-term unemployed people and how the commission might help to remedy it. The group's members included officials involved in managing employment and training programmes relevant to identifying and tackling literacy and numeracy problems, together with observers from my Department and the Department of Education and Science. A report of the group's findings is currently being considered by my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.