HC Deb 10 February 1989 vol 146 cc829-30W
Sir John Stanley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his Departments' responsibilities for the financial support and furtherance of education on Third world development issues in schools, universities and through the media; and in what specific ways those responsibilities are currently being discharged.

Mr. Chris Patten

The Overseas Development Administration has no direct responsibility for the furtherance of education on Third world development issues in schools and universities in Britain. However, under its public information programme the Overseas Development Administration disseminates a wide range of material on development issues to schools, universities, the media and interested organisations and groups.

As part of this programme we are providing annual grants to the Centre for World Development Education and the Scottish Education and Action for Development of £125,000 and £6,000 respectively.

I also agreed last year to contribute £70,000 to the Council of Europe's north-south interdependence campaign. Many groups, including local development education centres, have been able to use these funds.