§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress in meeting the global aim of a basic education for every child by 2015; in which countries her Department supports education; and what recent evaluation her Department has made of the impact of her Department's programmes on meeting its education targets. [80553]
§ Clare ShortWe recognise the huge importance of the education and gender equality targets within the Millennium Development Goals. We have fully 15W achieved the goals in this area set in our current Public Service Agreement, but there is a huge challenge in getting to the 2015 objectives. Our willingness to put more resources into universal primary education is demonstrated by our new PSA target (20 million more children in schools in 20 countries by 2006), and by plans for support to education. This forecast support for basic education amounts to £1.3 billion over the next five years, either through education sector support or direct budget support. Of this, about £500 million will go to Africa and £800 million to Asia. The figure of £1.3 billion forecast for the next five years exceeds the £700 million committed to UPE since 1997. These spending figures are forecasts, not targets or commitments, and depend on agreeing high quality programmes with our partners.