To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how his Department will support education in Liberia following the refusal by the Education for All Fast Track Initiative Catalytic Fund to fund the endorsed Liberia Education Plan. (140882)

At the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) Catalytic Fund Strategy Committee in Bonn on 23 May 2007, development partners were very encouraged by the positive steps that Liberia is taking to rebuild its education system. Liberia has been admitted to the FTI partnership on the understanding that its education recovery plan is not yet ready for funding through this channel. It will continue to be supported with planning through the FTI's education programme development fund and with additional funding support through UNICEF.

The UK intends to support education in Liberia through the FTI's Catalytic Fund when there is consensus among all FTI partners that Liberia is eligible. The UK is contributing £150 million to the FTI.