Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Whately Excerpts

Wednesday 8th July 2015 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)]

1. What steps the Government are taking to support the education of Syrian children in refugee camps in Lebanon.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening)]

The UK-led No Lost Generation initiative means that we fully back the Government of Lebanon’s Reaching All Children with Education plan. Our funding for education in Lebanon this year will increase from £10 million to £20 million, which will support the Lebanese Government’s efforts to double the number of Syrian children enrolled in Lebanese public schools.

[Helen Whately]

Does the Secretary of State believe that her Department’s efforts are effective in preventing a new generation of Syrian children from becoming radicalised?

[Justine Greening]

Yes, I absolutely do. Education is vital for all children, but especially children who are refugees: they are children and they should be in school. Many of the children I have met have been through hugely distressing situations. When asked to draw pictures, they draw pictures of places that have been bombed. When they hear a supply plane go over their room, they dive underneath their desks for cover. Education is possibly their main chance of having some prospect of a successful life ahead of them, and that is why it is so important.