The international Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALL) conducted in 2003 to gauge functional literacy and numeracy together with analytical and problem-solving abilities shows that about 80 per cent of Italians aged between 16 and 65 are unable to apply linear reasoning and draw inferences of average complexity by extracting and combining information provided in written texts that are little more than basic.
A memorandum of understanding will be signed with Consob on the ways the Bank of Italy is to contribute to the examination of prospectuses for bank securities. Another memorandum, also nearing completion, will determine the technical procedures whereby Consob may access Central Credit Register data to verify possible abuses of market power without harm to the confidentiality of the service.