§ 14. Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures have been taken to improve performance in numeracy and literacy in Scottish schools. [65840]
§ 17. Mrs. Irene AdamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has taken to improve performance in numeracy and literacy in Scottish schools. [65843]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe early intervention programme, worth a total of £60m over five years, will establish the basic literacy and numeracy skills children will need. We have set targets to raise the level of achievement in literacy and numeracy in line with the national benchmark of 80 per cent. of children achieving the relevant stages in primary school and 75 per cent. at S2. We have invested £30m over three years from the Excellence Fund to support in-service training of teachers with particular emphasis on literacy and numeracy in the P6 to S2 stages, and £15m over three years to support family literacy180W schemes to help parents to help children to read. From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.