To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many officials in his Department have been identified as lacking core skills as a result of the annual review process; and what measures are planned to ensure any such deficiencies are rectified. (180353)

The Department is in the process of conducting and collating skills audits. As a consequence it is too early to offer any conclusions at this stage. The Department is also in the process of defining a skills strategy which will look to establish policies and methods for enhancing skills in Department employees going forward. Again this strategy is in the development stage. The Department has also made the skills pledge, a public commitment to support all employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs).