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Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) each London borough and (e) England she estimates were illiterate (i) at the last date for which figures are available and (ii) in each year since 2000. [34219]
Bill Rammell: The Skills for Life Survey: A national needs and impact survey of literacy, numeracy and ICT skills (DfES, October 2003) provides the latest estimates of literacy levels across England. The survey assessed the literacy, numeracy and ICT skills of around 8,000 adults aged 16 and above in England. The estimates are available to individual education authority area; however they are only available for 2003 and not every year since 2000.
The survey findings are shown in the tables following for the regions requested. The assessment levels correspond to the literacy and numeracy National
6 Dec 2005 : Column 1166W
Standards: these were introduced in 2002 to provide a framework for all adult screening tests, diagnostic tools, programmes of study and qualifications. Learners are assessed for levels of literacy from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. Level 2 is broadly equivalent to a higher grade GCSE (A*-C).'
Overall literacy | ||
---|---|---|
16 to 65-year-olds | ||
Percentage | Number | |
All entry level or below | 11 | 11,070 |
Level 1 | 43 | 41,400 |
Level 2 or above | 46 | 44,410 |
100 | 85,920 |
Overall literacy | ||
---|---|---|
16 to 65-year-olds | ||
Percentage | Number | |
All entry level or below | 10 | 105,600 |
Level 1 | 41 | 414,700 |
Level 2 or above | 49 | 490,900 |
100 | 1,011,200 |
Overall literacy | ||
---|---|---|
16 to 65 year olds | ||
Percentage | Number | |
All entry level or below | 7 | 42,750 |
Level 1 | 43 | 281,800 |
Level 2 or above | 50 | 330,900 |
100 | 655,450 |
Overall Literacy | ||
---|---|---|
16 to 65-year-olds | ||
Percentage | Number (million) | |
All Entry level or below | 16 | 5.2 |
Level 1 | 40 | 12.6 |
Level 2 or above | 44 | 14.1 |
100 | 31.9 |
A copy of the survey report is in the House of Commons Library and on the DfES website: www.dfes.gov.uk
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if the Government will fund the provision of toothbrushes and toothpaste to Sure Start nurseries in deprived areas; [34234]
(2) if the Government will support the Stop-the-Rot campaign to encourage nurseries to help prevent tooth decay in small children. [34237]
Beverley Hughes:
Many Sure Start settings offer a diverse range of activities to improve oral health in very young children, for example, by issuing free toothbrushes and toothpaste packs to families, free information leaflets and advice sessions. This is in addition to the Department of Health's pilot scheme 'Brushing for Life ' where Health Visitors are giving free packs containing a tube of fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes and a leaflet on oral hygiene to families with children aged eight and 18 months living in
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areas with the highest level of tooth decay and in areas served by a Sure Start Local Programme where fluoride is not added to the water supply.
The pilot scheme has been the subject of a positive evaluation and, when the pilot concludes, primary care trusts wishing to participate in the scheme will be able to
order packs through the NHS purchasing and supply authority's catalogue.
The Stop-the-Rot scheme and associated website was publicised in the November edition of Sure Start News which is a regular newsletter e-mailed to all Sure Start settings and other early years providers.
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage primary school children to brush their teeth at lunchtime. [34235]
Jacqui Smith: Promoting oral hygiene in children is a responsibility for the Department of Health, with whom we liaise and seek advice from in health matters. The Department of Health has not recommended that it is necessary for primary schools to encourage all pupils to clean their teeth at lunch.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities operate a middle school system; how many middle schools there are; and which of these are for children aged nine to 13 years. [34604]
Jacqui Smith: As at January 2005 there were 24 local authorities in England that had a total of 367 middle schools, 235 of which were for children aged 9 to 13. The table lists the 24 local authorities and details of numbers of schools for each.
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