Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of adult numeracy.

The department has launched Multiply, a new programme for improving adult numeracy, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Up to £559 million is available over the Spending Review period for Multiply, including up to £430 million across all four nations for local areas to deliver bespoke adult numeracy interventions.

All adults without a GCSE grade C/4 (or equivalent) in mathematics will be able to access free flexible courses that fit around their lives, including in person training, personal tutoring, and digital content.

Adults who don’t already have a GCSE pass Grade 4/C (or equivalent) or above in mathematics are already entitled to funding for mathematics qualifications up to level 2. Multiply does not remove this entitlement, nor does it reduce funding for the Adult Education Budget.

Multiply will boost funding for maths, enabling delivery of innovative approaches to improving numeracy in adults, helping more people take the next step to higher levels of training or unlock new job opportunities.