§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment has been made of the estimated annual cost to business and industry, including small firms, of poor basic literacy.
§ Mr. BoswellA recent survey by the Government-funded adult literacy and basic skills unit estimated the annual cost to British industry of poor basic skills—both literacy and numeracy—among the work force as almost £5 billion. This figure takes account of the cost of cancelled orders, rectifying incorrect orders, lost custom and the additional recruitment and staffing required.