Written question asked by Lord Wakeham (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Thursday, 6 December 2007.

Education: Literacy and Numeracy

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the timetable for raising levels of functional literacy and numeracy is sufficient to make an early and significant impact on the problem.

Answer: Our targets to improve adult functional literacy and numeracy skills over the next three years are ambitious and challenging, especially with respect to numeracy, and are necessary to ensure that 95 per cent of adults achieve functional basic skills by 2020. We have put in place the investment to enable us to achieve this. A new numeracy strategy and marketing campaign in 2008 will drive higher demand for courses. More embedding of basic skills in vocational qualifications will increase the number of achievements, as well as improving success rates. Our work with employers and business, including the employer skills pledge, will also drive greater demand for literacy and numeracy skills. With a target of all Skills for Life teachers qualified or working towards qualification by 2010, recruitment incentives and bursaries for Skills for Life teacher training, and new training routes for specialist Skills for Life learning support from September 2008, we are working to build a Skills for Life workforce that will support more learners and enable higher success rates. The Skills for Life sector is well placed to respond to additional demand and the Skills for Life strategy has been benchmarked as the best in the world. It is crucial that we meet these targets—as well as our higher level skills targets—to ensure that Britain remains economically competitive in the long term.

Secondary information