§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the current reported rate of illiteracy; and what were the figures for each of the previous four years. [20725]
§ Mr. BoswellThe number of people in England and Wales who cannot read and write at all is minimal. However, the Basic Skills Agency estimates that one in six adults in England and Wales is unable to read, write and/or speak in English at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general. There is no evidence that this proportion has changed significantly in recent years.