§ 29. Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to achieve the target of universal primary education by 2015. [79132]
§ Clare ShortOne of my key international poverty eradication targets is to secure primary education for all children in the world by 2015. Education is therefore of crucial importance in the work of my Department. We are working in the multilateral system to increase its commitment to the 2015 target. In the Government's first year in office (1997–98), we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent major commitments have been made of over £200 million to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda. These and new programmes being developed reflect a major contribution238W to the challenge of achieving universal primary education and will substantially increase the proportion of our bilateral assistance invested in primary education.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to developing countries to achieve universal primary education. [79115]
§ Clare ShortWe made clear in our White Paper in November 1997 that we are strongly committed to the international development targets which include universal primary education by 2015. We are working to increase international commitment to meet the target. In our own programmes, we spent over £13 million of bilateral funds on primary education in 1997–98. This was an increase of £5 million over the previous year. Subsequent commitments of over £200 million have been made to basic education in a number of countries including Ghana, India, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh and our largest ever single education commitment of £67 million for Uganda.