The six articles in this issue tackle topics that relate to the role and function of numeracy in adult life. "Reading Comprehension in Written Mathematics Problems" (Sue Wareham) examines the levels of reading ability required of numeracy students and offers strategies to help students with limited reading skills. "Can Ordinary People Do Real Maths?" (Joan O'Hagan) tackles the issue of "real" math through a review of historical, philosophical, and cultural perspectives on the nature of mathematics and considers the consequences for tutors and students. "Numeracy: A Core Skill or Not?" (George Barr) reviews the place of numeracy within recently established core skills frameworks. "Sorting Out Statistics: Confessions of a Numeracy Tutor" (Sarah Oliver) considers the place of statistics in life and in the curriculum. "Learning Contracts in Higher Education: Towards Confidence in Developing Numeracy Skills" (Ian Beveridge, Gordon Weller) describes the development of numeracy support for Access (a program which attracts a lot of single parent mothers, housewives with older children, and non-mainstream groups) and higher education students at Luton College, England. "Effective Provision of Literacy and Numeracy Instruction for Long-Term Unemployed Persons" (Joy Cumming), an article that reviews the provision of employment-related courses in Australia, evaluates the features of good practice in both literacy and numeracy, and considers the most effective approaches in developing numeracy skills. (YLB)