HL Deb 14 July 1988 vol 499 c1011WA
Lord Chelwood

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which countries will benefit in 1989, and by approximately how much, in total and singly, from the decision at the Toronto Summit to reduce the burden of debt on some sub-Saharan and other countries; on what criteria they were selected, and which of them are among the 10 poorest nations in the world.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)

Debt relief on the terms agreed at the Toronto Summit will be available to countries depending on their poverty, indebtedness and readiness to implement internationally approved adjustment programmes. The Paris Club has been asked to work out technicalities before the end of this year at the latest, but until this is done it is not possible to say which countries will qualify. However, it is certainly the intention that the poorest nations will benefit substantially from the proposals agreed at the Toronto Summit.