INTERNATIONAL development secretary Douglas Alexander spoke to students and staff at the University of the West of Scotland recently.
The Paisley and Renfrewshire MP described how decisions made in Britain have helped tackle global poverty as he delivered the university's annual Brough lecture.
The event is named after Peter Brough, the 19th century Paisley businessman whose b
equests to the town provided funds to establish the original educational institution on which the university is based.
UWS's principal, professor Seamus McDaid, said: "The Brough lecture is the flagship event in our annual seminar series and we were delighted to welcome Douglas to our Paisley campus".
Mr Alexander, an MP since 1997, has headed the international development department since June 2007.
During his speech, he said: "Since the turn of the century, in just nine years, aid increases and debt cancellation have helped put nearly 40 million more children into school.
"When we talk in such stark terms it is easy to forget that among those 40 million are the doctors and teachers of tomorrow.
"Development works, and we must continue to remind ourselves that whatever the setbacks in the short term, in the long run of human history we really can transform the lives of our fellow citizens for the better.
Mr Alexander went on to talk about the progress of the Millennium development goals to halve extreme poverty – which the recession is thought to have stalled by up to three years.
He added: "I firmly believe that now is not the time to turn away from our mission to tackle global poverty".
