UP TO one million adults in Scotland are functionally illiterate, according to new estimates by the Scottish Executive.

Furthermore, 1.2 million are estimated to be unable to carry out basic arithmetic to calculate change correctly.

A statistical study of illiteracy has never been undertaken in Scotland, but the estimates tally with a recent study carried out in England, where an estimated 24 per cent of adults have literacy difficulties. Henry McLeish, Scottish minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, said efforts must be made to gather exact statistics to tackle the issue. "It is unacceptable in a modern society and we have to take action now."