Plus symbol not loaded in Text Field

I have a simple flash movie with a text field named ‘txt1’.

The following is the code in the root frame.

var r:LoadVars = new LoadVars();
r.load(“test.txt”);
r.onLoad = function()
{
txt1.text = this.Data;
}

The content of test.txt is:

&Data=Microsoft C++ is a Object Oriented
Programming Language. C# (pronounced C Sharp) is
not an extension or evolution of C++ as C++ is
to C, but it is a completely new langauge.

When the data is loaded into the text field, I dont see the ++.
Instead I see space characters.

I tried using the escape character , but in vain.

Can any body pls explain me what the problem is ?