asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number and proportion of adult illiterates in the population will receive training in basic skills of literacy this year from provision made or supported by his Department's spending; and if he will make a statement.

The Department funds the adult literacy and basic skills unit to encourage the development and improvement of adult basic skills provision in England. It is local education authorities and voluntary organisation who provide tuition locally within the framework of the education service. Between them they are likely to provide tuition for some 121,000 adults to help improve their literacy during a year.