HC Deb 05 August 1975 vol 897 c164W
Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will list projects supported by his Department to promote adult literacy in developing countries.

Mr. Prentice

We have not received requests for this sort of project, possibly because UNESCO has been running a programme of pilot projects costing over $8 million a year, to which we contribute. We do, however, provide training courses for overseas students, and we support research activities in the subject in this country. We shall be paying specific attention to it in the context of our emphasis on aid to the poorest people, and in the light of the results of the UNESCO programme and of the survey of United Kingdom resources which, as my hon. Friend knows, the British Committee on Literacy is now completing.