Lord Bates Stephen Twigg MP Minister of State Chair of the International Development Committee House of Commons Tel: +44(0)20 7023 0500 Fax: +44(0)20 7023 0732 7 Millbank London Email:
[email protected] SW1P 3JA February 2017 FOLLOW UP TO IDC HEARING ON ICAI’S REPORT ON UK AID’S SUPPORT TO MARGINALISED GIRLS’ EDUCATION My colleagues Anna French, Anna Wechsberg and I appreciated the opportunity to give oral evidence to the International Development Committee on DFID’s response to the latest ICAI report, “Accessing, staying and succeeding in basic education – UK Aid’s support to marginalised girls”. We again apologise for the delay in getting our initial response to you. As promised, I would like to provide additional information on four key areas as I promised: 1. Support to secondary education In 2014, the UK was the largest bilateral donor to secondary education (see Annex 1), and we will continue to make this a priority – particularly for its importance in reaching adolescent girls. We will also press others to give greater priority to secondary education, especially for girls. Secondary education is really important in improving girls’ life chances, preventing child marriage, reducing HIV infection, delaying early motherhood, and in girls having healthier children. Reaching the Global Goal commitment of quality primary and secondary education for every child by 2030 will require concerted international effort. 2. Equity and DFID’s VFM guidance I wanted to take this opportunity to expand upon my answer to Fiona Bruce’s question on VfM. I agree that equity considerations need to be part of our approach, alongside economy, efficiency and effectiveness.