Hundreds of authors urge PM to tackle child illiteracy

More than 500 writers - including Nick Hornby, Ian Rankin, Joanna Trollope, Kate Mosse and Alexander McCall Smith - have called on Gordon Brown to confront the issue of childhood illiteracy. The authors say they are deeply concerned about low levels of literacy, and have signed a letter to the prime minister calling for "a push" on the issue, so that "no child is left behind". The writers cite official statistics that show one in five 11-year-olds leaving primary school is unable to read to the minimum standard for the age group. Children should be taught to read at school for an hour a day until they can do so properly, they say - Guardian Unlimited