HC Deb 26 October 2000 vol 355 c190W
Ms Christine Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to improve basic numeracy and literacy skills through the New Deal. [132602]

Ms Jowell

We have introduced, for the first time ever, comprehensive arrangements to identify, assess and tackle basic numeracy and literacy skills problems. By extending these arrangements to meet the challenge of basic employability, no one should leave the New Deal without the opportunity to improve reading and writing ability.