§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the functional illiteracy rate amongst(a)11 to 18 year olds and (b)adults in (i) Manchester, Blackley, (ii) Manchester and (iii) England. [174622]
§ Mr. Miliband'Functional illiteracy' is usually thought to be equivalent to Entry Level literacy as defined in the National Standards for Adult Literacy and Numeracy, which in turn is equivalent to below a G grade at GCSE English language. For students aged between 11 and 18 the Department does not currently hold data on entry level qualifications. This information should be available from next year for pupils at the end of compulsory schooling.
The DfES Skills for Life survey published in October 2003 provides estimates of the proportion of people in England who are at various literacy and numeracy skill levels as defined by the National Standards for Adult Literacy and Numeracy.
The Skills for Life survey estimates that for the Manchester Learning and Skills Council area 18 per cent. of adults have Entry level literacy skills. For England this proportion is 16 per cent.
Unfortunately, data is not yet available at sub-LSC level. However the Department is in the process of developing a website which will give users access to estimates of literacy and numeracy skills at local levels. This website should be online at the end of 2004.