Written question asked by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Monday, 3 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 November 2003. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 10 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what assessment he has made of the finding in the recent Skills for Life survey carried out by his Department that the expansion to access in higher education has not led to marked improvements in literacy and numeracy.

Answer: Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the finding in the recent Skills for Life survey carried out by his Department that the expansion to access in higher education has not led to marked improvements in literacy and numeracy. [136716] Alan Johnson: The Skills for Life survey shows that education is highly correlated with literacy and numeracy skills--both in terms of age of completing full time education and the highest qualification. The vast majority of those with degrees have Level 2 or higher literacy and numeracy, and the converse is true for those with low level or no qualifications. The survey provides the first national profile of adult literacy and numeracy skills and demonstrates the need for the Government to continue its sustained drive to improve adult basic skills training and school standards. To date over 1.8 million adults have started basic skills courses as part of the Government's `Skills for Life' programme.

Secondary information