Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that over 3 million children, aged five to 17, are obliged to work in the Philippines; and what initiatives they are funding to assist with the provision of education for such children.

We are not aware of these reports. However, we are aware that poverty remains a persistent problem in the Philippines. The UK recognises the impact poverty has as an impediment to economic development and political stability.

The UK contributes to the education programmes of multilateral institutions in the Philippines through our core contributions to European Union, World Bank, Asian Development Bank and UNICEF. We do not fund education programmes directly in the Philippines.