Education (Hansard, 7 June 2000)

§ 2. Mr. Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam)
If she will make a statement on the provision of education in countries involved in conflict. [123171]

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. George Foulkes)
Conflict seriously disrupts lives and livelihoods, and education is a major casualty. The needs of displaced children are particularly acute. While all possible effort must be made to provide education to displaced children, progress in meeting the target of universal primary education by 2015 will depend on the resolution of conflict and a return to a focus on development.

§ Mr. Burstow
Is education not part of the solution to the conflicts? Given that smart aid has proved effective at delivering humanitarian assistance in many countries, can the same approach not be used for development aid? Given that education is a key way to unlock potential and reduce conflict, how can it be right that countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan have had their budgets cut? Generation after generation of children have not had education. Surely the Government should do more through smart aid to get money to assist those children.

§ Mr. Foulkes
Of course education is part of the solution, and poverty eradication is the key to getting rid of some of the major causes of conflicts. However, it is very difficult to ensure that there is proper education, and to get children into schools, and schools running properly, where conflicts exist. Where conflicts are escalating, as they are in Ethiopia and Eritrea, it is doubly difficult to achieve those goals.

§ Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow)
Does my hon. Friend agree that no Government who are committed to delivering universal primary education should be prevented from doing so because of a lack of resources? Will the Department for International Development be able to make progress on that issue at the United Nations millennium summit?

§ Mr. Foulkes
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. In the past three years, the Department has spent £300 million—11 per cent. of our Budget—on education, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and south-east Asia. Nevertheless, I give my hon. Friend this pledge: we aim to do a great deal more.

§ Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)
Does the hon. Gentleman agree with me—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]—that in areas of conflict, people lose their lives not only because of the conflict itself, but because of the disease that ravages such areas? What role does the Department have in providing education for young people—particularly in Africa, but, unfortunately, increasingly in south-east Asia, too—on the dangers of AIDS? Specifically, what is the Department doing to support the excellent work being done by the World Health Organisation?

§ Mr. Foulkes
Given the response that the hon. Gentleman received from my hon. Friends, I am a bit reluctant to agree with him. On this occasion, however, I agree with him 100 per cent; he is absolutely right. [HON. MEMBERS: "No"] He cannot be wrong every time.
I had the privilege of visiting Mlazi township, in South Africa, to see for myself the work being done with peer education, which entails youngsters talking to other youngsters about what needs to be done to prevent 274 HIV-AIDS. Additionally, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the Prime Minister announced that we are spending £100 million to help to eradicate AIDS in Africa. Again, however, we plan to do a great deal more.