Education

Oral Answers to Questions — International Development – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 7 July 2010.

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Photo of Mark Williams Mark Williams Liberal Democrat, Ceredigion 11:30, 7 July 2010

What steps he is taking to seek to ensure that the millennium development goals relating to education are met.

Photo of Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell The Secretary of State for International Development

Achieving the millennium development goals, including those for education, is at the heart of the Government's development policy. We are reviewing all our programmes to ensure we focus on those that deliver maximum value for money.

Photo of Mark Williams Mark Williams Liberal Democrat, Ceredigion

I thank the Secretary of State for that response, but may I also commend to him the Global Campaign for Education's work on this matter, in particular its request that the UK Government commit themselves to a 10-year sector plan for education? If there is one thing that education needs, particularly primary education, it is stability in those funding streams.

Photo of Andrew Mitchell Andrew Mitchell The Secretary of State for International Development

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point about consistency and clarity of funding, and we will be looking at all these points in connection with the bilateral review of how we spend money in each of our target countries. As he knows, an important conference is taking place this weekend in South Africa, which I hope a Minister will be able to attend.