HC Deb 05 April 1990 vol 170 cc732-3W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goals were agreed at the "Education for All" conference in Thailand this month; how Her Majesty's Government will ensure that these goals are reached; and what plans Her Majesty's Government have to increase the aid given specifically to primary education and adult literacy.

Mrs. Chalker

The ultimate goal affirmed by the world declaration on education for all is to meet the basic learning needs of all children, youth and adults.

Progress towards this goal will rest mainly with individual developing country Governments establishing intermediate goals to suit local circumstances, and, in respect of the aid programme, the priorities they have. We are not able to order the way in which other Governments allocate resources to a variety of sectors, but I believe that the consequences of the conference will enable us more easily to encourage and expand support for primary education and adult literacy programmes, the latter with an emphasis on learning for women.