§ Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures are available for adult illiteracy in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis information is not held centrally.
There is no standard definition of adult literacy and it is therefore difficult to collect comprehensive information. The Scottish Community Education Council was funded by the Scottish Office in 1990 to undertake a small-scale study of literacy and numeracy issues which indicated that 9 per cent. of a sample of adults had difficulties with either reading, writing or numeracy.
The Government give high priority to basic skills education for adults. Local authorities are currently the main providers but the Scottish Office Education Department also gives support by way of grant to organisations such as the Scottish Community Education Council as well as supporting local initiatives such as the Number Shop, the Whitfield adult basic education trust in Dundee and the Upper Nithsdale adult basic education project in Sanquhar. Support was also given earlier this year to adult learners' week.
The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 strengthens the position on basic skills by conferring on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State a duty in securing the provision of further education to have regard to the requirements of persons over school age who have learning difficulties.