To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he made to ensure that the standards of testing by local authorities for seven-year-old readers was of a nationally consistent standard; and if he will state the names of any local authorities not sending in returns.

The teachers who carried out the reading tests used standard materials and marking schemes, and used books chosen from a national list.Each local education authority was required to secure consistency between its assessment standards and national standards, and training was provided for LEA assessment staff.Tower Hamlets and Lambeth LEAs did not submit their schools' returns by the due date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will tabulate in respect of each local education authority making returns of their assessments tests for seven-year-old readers, the number of schools making or not making returns, respectively, and the appropriate number and percentage within each authority contributing to the test results.

The tables published by my right hon. and learned Friend on 19 December were based on the usable returns from the following percentages of maintained primary schools with seven-year-olds in each LEA.