§ Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment is of the scale of child labour; and what steps she plans to take in relation to it. [61925]
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§ Clare ShortThe most recent report form the International Labour Organisation estimates that there are 246 million working children. 179 million of them are engaged in the worst forms of child labour that endanger their physical, mental or moral well-being.
The Government will continue to support partners that tackle child labour internationally, nationally and locally, and to promote policies that support poverty elimination and social justice for children. My Department has recently published a paper, "Liberating Children—combating hidden and harmful child labour", which looks at why there are so many children in harmful work, and suggests how everyone—governments, international organisations, business and civil society—has a part to play in tackling this persistent problem.