HC Deb 23 July 1997 vol 298 c940
6. Mr. Hope

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has for developing the scope and extent of development education in supporting the work of her Department. [8361]

Mr. Foulkes

We are undertaking a radical rethink of the Department's communications work with a view to increasing public awareness and support for our plans for poverty elimination to be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.

I take this opportunity to congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Hope) on hosting in the House the very successful launch of the Global Youth Work Advisory Service, which I was able to attend together with a Minister from the Department for Education and Employment. The service will make a positive contribution to our work.

Mr. Hope

I thank my hon. Friend for his positive and generous reply. Does he agree that we need a comprehensive strategy involving schools, adult education colleges, universities and the wider media to educate people of all ages and to raise public awareness of the globalised world in which we live and the impact that globalisation is having on our everyday lives?

Mr. Foulkes

I agree with my hon. Friend. Our targets will include not just schools and youth groups but business groups, consumers, tourists and trade unions. We intend to produce a short, popular version of the White Paper which will be available for discussion in schools and for consideration by Church groups and others.

Mr. David Heath

Will the Minister give every encouragement to twinning arrangements between schools in this country and schools in the developing world, similar to that of Ansford school in my constituency? Does he see that as a way of promoting, for example, female education in developing countries, which many people feel is particularly important?

Mr. Foulkes

I agree completely with the hon. Gentleman. We are encouraging what we prefer to call partnerships between schools in the United Kingdom and in developing countries rather than twinning arrangements, which sometimes have unfortunate connotations in local government. We want to use schools such as that mentioned by the hon. Gentleman as models or exemplars for others in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.