The Government has rightly provided accelerated access to information technology to a number of young people. Is there a parallel programme to accelerate educational provision to those who have not yet mastered the old technologies of reading and writing? Some 18,000 of those who leave formal education every year are both illiterate and innumerate. Is he worried that the gap between achievers and non-achievers at school will now widen and is he making provision to ensure, in the interests of natural justice, this will not happen?

It is essential that people be literate and numerate if they are to use computers, to the extent that they are not, they will be unable to use them. The point raised by the Deputy is valid. It is a matter of considerable importance that there should be investment in education and since it has come into office the Government has been able to reduce substantially the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools. This allows more intensive, one-to-one attention to be given to children who are falling behind. As the Deputy is aware, there are now four fewer pupils per teacher in primary schools than there were when the Government entered office, which means it is possible for teachers to give more attention to such children. The use of computers may help people become more proficient in reading, writing and arithmetic.