§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the numbers of functionally illiterate people in England and Wales are increasing or declining; and when such records started to be kept.
§ Mr. FormanThe Department's current estimate of the number of people in England and Wales who are functionally illiterate is based on a survey carried out some years ago by the adult literacy and basic skills unit. There is no evidence as to whether numbers are growing or declining. ALBSU is however currently undertaking a similar survey, the results of which are likely to be known within the next 12 months.
§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 20 May 1992,Official Report, columns 158-59, if he will publish a breakdown of the 5.5 million people who are functionally illiterate in England and Wales into groups according to age, area and ethnic origin.
§ Mr. FormanThe figure of 5.5 million functionally illiterate people in England and Wales is an estimate based on a survey carried out by the adult literacy and basic skills unit. The survey did not distinguish according to age, area and ethnic origin.