Written question asked by Mark Lazarowicz (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 January 2002. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 January 2002 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What steps she is taking to combat illiteracy in developing countries. (Failed OPQ)

Answer: 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: DFlD'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.

Secondary information