§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science which body is now responsible for quantifying changes in reading standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe national curriculum sets clear national targets for reading and provides for pupils' progress in relation to those targets to be tested at the ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16. The School Examinations and Assessment Council is responsible for advising the Government on the testing arrangments and, as a function of that, will be monitoring and evaluating the results. In order to undertake this latter aspect of its work, the School Examinations and Assessment Council has taken over the Department's former assessment and performance unit which now forms the council's evaluation and monitoring unit. My right hon. and learned Friend has also asked Her Majesty's inspectorate to continue to monitor reading standards and to provide regular reports.