To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of written material for people suffering a reading disability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of written material for people suffering a reading disability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial support his Department has provided in each year since 1997 for the production of written materials for people with reading disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial support his Department has provided in each year since 1997 for the production of written materials for people with reading disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support his Department provides to ensure that reading materials are available in accessible formats for children with disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support his Department provides to ensure that reading materials are available in accessible formats for children with disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of educational institutions have had written materials available in a format accessible to those with reading disabilities in each year since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of educational institutions have had written materials available in a format accessible to those with reading disabilities in each year since 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which 10 local education authorities have the poorest levels of literacy for those aged (a) five, (b) 11 and (c) 16 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which 10 local education authorities have the poorest levels of literacy for those aged (a) five, (b) 11 and (c) 16 years.

What is the current population of young offenders and other prisoners assessed on reception into prison as having literacy and numeracy skills below level 1 in (a) 2003-04; (b) 2004-05; and (c) 2005-06.

What is the current population of young offenders and other prisoners assessed on reception into prison as having literacy and numeracy skills below level 1 in (a) 2003-04; (b) 2004-05; and (c) 2005-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department’s policy is on improving reading capabilities in (a) school-age children and (b) adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department’s policy is on improving reading capabilities in (a) school-age children and (b) adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of levels of adult literacy in England; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of levels of adult literacy in England; and if he will make a statement.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the reading recovery programme.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the reading recovery programme.

Mr. Bayley, I am only three yards away from the hon. Lady, who is making a compelling case. However, I am finding it difficult to concentrate because of the hammering and burrowing on the outer wall. Might something be done about it, at least for future debates? I should like...

Mr. Bayley, I am only three yards away from the hon. Lady, who is making a compelling case. However, I am finding it difficult to concentrate because of the hammering and burrowing on the outer wall. Might something be done about it, at least for future debates? I should like...

Thank you, Mr. Bayley. I just thought that even more people were trying to get in to listen to our debate.

Thank you, Mr. Bayley. I just thought that even more people were trying to get in to listen to our debate.

I am pleased to speak under your chairmanship, Mr. Bayley, during the closing part of this discussion. I congratulate the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this debate. We have heard in some powerful contributions that we feel strongly about this issue on both sides of the...

I am pleased to speak under your chairmanship, Mr. Bayley, during the closing part of this discussion. I congratulate the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this debate. We have heard in some powerful contributions that we feel strongly about this issue on both sides of the...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that clarification. We both illustrated that there is a big gap in articulation levels and that is probably set very early by what children hear from their parents. I am reminded of my A-level history lessons on the counter-reformation and Ignatius Loyola, founder of...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that clarification. We both illustrated that there is a big gap in articulation levels and that is probably set very early by what children hear from their parents. I am reminded of my A-level history lessons on the counter-reformation and Ignatius Loyola, founder of...

I cannot say that I disagree with anything that the hon. Gentleman has said, but would it not be more complete to ask the Minister for a whole strategy, including tackling communication problems pre-school, as well as picking up the pieces when people have fallen through the gap, but keeping...

I cannot say that I disagree with anything that the hon. Gentleman has said, but would it not be more complete to ask the Minister for a whole strategy, including tackling communication problems pre-school, as well as picking up the pieces when people have fallen through the gap, but keeping...

I should be delighted; I know that the hon. Lady has a long-standing interest in the matter.

I should be delighted; I know that the hon. Lady has a long-standing interest in the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

In my city of Nottingham last year, nearly one in eight 11-year-olds were unable to read the first lesson at secondary school. That is one of the main causes of educational underachievement, exclusions, low attainment, truancy and poor results, yet that social blindness is a wholly preventable disease. The consequences...

In my city of Nottingham last year, nearly one in eight 11-year-olds were unable to read the first lesson at secondary school. That is one of the main causes of educational underachievement, exclusions, low attainment, truancy and poor results, yet that social blindness is a wholly preventable disease. The consequences...

I said that children in a family on benefits might hear 12 million words. The middle range for children in working class families is 30 million. Interaction and articulation in families on benefits is far less.

I said that children in a family on benefits might hear 12 million words. The middle range for children in working class families is 30 million. Interaction and articulation in families on benefits is far less.

It is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr. O’Hara. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this debate on a subject that is crucial not only to my constituency, but nationally. Initially, I want to say a little about where I...

It is a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship, Mr. O’Hara. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this debate on a subject that is crucial not only to my constituency, but nationally. Initially, I want to say a little about where I...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this debate and the ecumenical way in which he spoke—the seating arrangements this morning are also ecumenical. He mentioned deprivation and the effect that low literacy and numeracy standards can have on trapping people in the deprived circumstances...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on securing this debate and the ecumenical way in which he spoke—the seating arrangements this morning are also ecumenical. He mentioned deprivation and the effect that low literacy and numeracy standards can have on trapping people in the deprived circumstances...