§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held with IMF officials concerning the impact of the IMF's rescue package of levels of poverty in South East Asia. [58161]
§ Ms HewittI have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer discussed this and other matters at the recent IMF and World bank meetings in Washington. He emphasised the need for the IMF and World bank to work together in the design of programmes to ensure that Governments have in place policies to strengthen social systems and tackle the social impact of sudden shocks to the financial system, and that the conditions they attach to programmes 710W A Department for International Development expert mission is in Honduras and Nicaragua next week and will assess the effective delivery of emergency water supplies.