According to the Department for Evasion and Spin, there were seven million adults who lacked basic literacy and numeracy skills. In fact Sir Claus Moser’s 1999 report, which is constantly quoted as the source of this figure when anyone dares to question it, said something different.
It actually said the seven million figure “may be a little on the high side: but the order of magnitude is certainly right”.
It sounds like any figures we hear from the DfES about how many of “the seven million” they have sorted out should be treated with a pinch of salt.
