Gillian Merron, MP for Lincoln and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development, today signed up to show support for the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), the world’s largest children’s campaign which is calling on world leaders to keep their promises that every child in the world will complete a quality primary education by 2015.

There are 72 million children who are currently out of school around the world and, as part of GCE’s Global Action Week, the MP signed a giant ‘Missing Out’ action card to highlight their plight, saying:

“I'm delighted to support the Global Campaign for Education and I applaud the young people in the UK who are taking part in this week of action.

"We believe all children should have a good quality education. It is vital in the fight against poverty and contributes towards a better future for all.

"Since 1999 an extra 41m children worldwide have had the chance of a school education. But over 72m children still don't have access to education, which makes GCE's work so important, and which is why the UK Government has committed £8bn for global education by 2015."

Actress Samantha Bond best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films was also on hand to sign up to the campaign:

“With 72 million children around the world still out of school, we're asking politicians and decision makers to speed up their efforts to provide a primary education for all by 2015. Unless we act now these children will continue to miss out on school and all the opportunities that brings, which is why we're asking MPs from across the parties to get involved with the Global Campaign for Education and help us to give all children their right to an education.”

Thousands of children up and down the country are taking part in the campaign and on 23 April will be involved in a mass attempt to break the record for the World’s Biggest Lesson. Following this, they will then be inviting their MPs to get creative by completing a ‘missing out’ action card to be part of their school display. The cards will be sent to the Prime Minister before he flies off to the G8 in Japan at the end of June.