§ 2004 Chris McCaffertyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if she will list her Department's aid contribution specifically aimed at reducing illiteracy in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and the projected contributions in (f) 2002, (g) 2003 and (h)(i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of gross national product; [16641]
(2) if she will list her Department's aid contributions that incorporate illiteracy reduction in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and the projected contributions in (f) 2002, (g) 2003 and (h)(i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of GNP. [16642]
§ Clare ShortLiteracy statistics are notoriously misleading, particularly when they are disaggregated from the overall sector in which they are embedded. Figures cannot be provided in the form requested.
DFID's major focus for tackling illiteracy is helping developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education for all by 2015. Increasing access to good quality primary education and ensuring that children are literate when they leave school is essential for development and poverty reduction. Since 1997 the Government have committed over £600 million to support sustainable education systems in developing countries able to provide high quality primary education for all children. We will do more. We will also give increasing attention to helping developing countries tackle adult illiteracy and poverty reduction. All this will require a broad-based, multisectoral approach, aimed at enhancing national capacity to plan and implement effective national poverty reduction programmes.