§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the ranking of the UK has been in standard international comparative tables for literacy and numeracy in each of the last five years. [62026]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe are not aware of any standard annual comparative tables for literacy and numeracy. However, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), carried out in 1995, found that in mathematics England's 9 year olds came 10th out of 17 countries; and our 13 year olds came 16th out of 25 countries. In the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), carried out in 1996, British adults came 9th out of the 12 countries for which results are so far available.
This Government are determined to raise standards in schools and also take the issue of basic skills very seriously. That is why we have established the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies which are designed to raise standards to the level of the best. In addition to the wide range of current adult learning opportunities, the Government have set a target in The Learning Age to help 500,000 people a year by 2002.