To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if officials from his Department were involved in drafting the literacy strategy document recently circulated to schools. [39152]

Yes. Officials drafted the document, taking advice from various sources, including Ofsted, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Teacher Training Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 7 April 1998, Official Report, column 227, on the Literacy Task Force, when it published the results of its study on the literacy strategy; and if it is currently providing advice to his Department. [39203]

The Literacy Task Force met for the last time in July 1997, and published its final report in August 1997.