Education: illiteracy no bar to jobs in UK government

It would be funny if it were not so tragic: the UK's own press office, the Central Office of Information, is charged with communicating the Government's message.

One would assume that this should be done clearly, accurately and in good English.

And, to be fair, mostly it is.

But not by any means always.

Here are some of our favourite examples from recent (the past two weeks) COI press releases that demonstrate the lack of success of an English education in recent years.

Treasury Minister calls for an end to offshore tax evation (yes, it should be evasion)

The study, conducted on behalf of the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families marks the launch of a new advertising campaign, Chlamydia. Worth Talking About Supported by the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), the campaign encourages greater acceptance of chlamydia screening among 15 - 24 year olds. (some punctuation would have been nice)

Identity cards for foreign nationals programme expanded (would have been better as "Expansion of Identity Card scheme for foreign nationals")

Consumers can help secure britain’s food future (so now we know: the government holds Britain in such contempt that it doesn't even think it warrants a capital letter.)

Proposals to Dispense more Generic Medicines (but random capitals are OK)

A consultation on the use of small electric personal vehicles was today launched by Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis (the COI boldly goes where no split infinitive has gone before - what's wrong with "Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis today launched a consultation on the use of small electric personal vehicles?)

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband will today kick start a national scheme to upgrade household heating systems (The Americans join up words that should be hyphenated. The COI can't find the hypen key. Hint: it's in the top right of the keyboard)

Agreement on $3.5bn initial funding for deforestation (Aside from the fact that it's milliard not billion, the funding is not for deforestation, it's to reduce deforestation.)

Improving the passenger experience at airports, New champion and broader financial protection for air travellers (again, random capital letter)

And our particular favourite:

Hilary benn welcomes professor read’s report ‘a national assessment of forestry and climate change’`

Need we say more?