HC Deb 30 January 2002 vol 379 c311W
23. Mr. Lazarowicz

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to combat illiteracy in developing countries. [29146]

Clare Short

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.

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