Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fragile and Conflict-affected Countries: Education

Tuesday 20 April 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Covid-19 has worsened the crisis in education access for children, particularly girls, in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
  • The UK government aims to support 40 million more girls to return to school and 20 million more to learn to read within five years.
  • In 2020, the UK provided 10 million in new funding to support the education of refugee and displaced children.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Everitt
Education
Context

The global crisis of access to education has been exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly affecting children in regions affected by conflicts or climate-related emergencies.

Question

What steps are being taken to help ensure that children in fragile and conflict-affected countries can access education and learning?

Answer from Dominic Raab

Covid-19 has deepened the crisis in access to education for children, especially girls. Britain is championing two global targets: 40 million more girls back into school and 20 million more reading over the next five years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps being taken were not detailed

How: Championing Global Targets

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Q2 Ben Everitt
Education Children & Families
Context

One in four school-age children globally, over 500 million, lived in countries affected by conflicts or climate-related emergencies before the pandemic. Violence against children is increasing, and many are at risk of recruitment, sexual violence, and attacks on their schools.

Question

Will the Government commit to including those children and addressing the barriers to their learning in a specific target as part of the ambition to ensure 12 years of quality education for every girl?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The support to fragile and conflict-affected states accounts for over 50% of UK aid to education. In 2020, £10 million in new funding was provided to support refugee and displaced children's education.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to a specific target was not addressed

How: Support For Fragile States Accounting For Over 50% Of Aid

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Q3 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Foreign Affairs
Context

Since March, children's centres, education projects, and health facilities have closed due to Ministers not signing off on funding agreements. This affects lives and jobs.

Question

When will the Foreign Secretary come to the Chamber and tell the House which aid projects are safe, what is going to be cut, the associated risks and the timeline and criteria he is using?

Answer from Dominic Raab

We have taken a careful approach to allocations this year. Allocations will be laid in the House of Commons as usual, and I look forward to answering questions on Thursday.

Not addressed: Specific details about funding decisions were not provided

How: Careful Approach, Laying Allocations In Parliament

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Q4 Chris Law SNP Dundee Central
Education Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK endorsed the safe schools declaration, but cuts to aid for Syria and Yemen have been made despite a global education emergency due to covid-19.

Question

Does the Foreign Secretary agree that cutting aid to war-torn Syria and Yemen is undeniably a betrayal of 75 million children in conflict-affected countries who urgently require support to access education?

Answer from Dominic Raab

We remain one of the biggest global donors of aid. Our commitment to the Global Partnership for Education will increase, which we will announce shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Agreement with criticism was not addressed directly

How: Biggest Global Donor, Commitment To Increase

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