To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total level of expenditure allocated by his Department for the provision of support to the BBC "Step up the Wordpower" basic skills campaign in the current financial year.

The BBC initiative "Step up the Wordpower" took place in 1989–90. The Scottish Education Department contributed £16,500 in that year in direct support, and further contributions were made by the Scottish Community Education Council, which received a total grant of £528,000 from the Department, arid by the Training Agency.A BBC numeracy initiative is due to commence in the current financial year, and £10,500 has already been made available by the Department towards the costs of this initiative.