HC Deb 10 June 1997 vol 295 cc374-5W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the total sum now owed by the Government of Costa Rica to Her Majesty's Government under the terms of the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended; how much of this is(a) principal and (b) interest; and what future interest charges are expected. [2548]

Clare Short

Under the present schedule of repayments the total sum due to be repaid by the Government of Costa Rica to Her Majesty's Government under the terms of the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended is £1,237,845.85; of this £1,121,191.31 is principal and £116,654.54 is interest. Future interest charges are at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the total sum lent to the Government of Costa Rica by Her Majesty's Government under the terms of the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended. [2546]

Clare Short

The sum lent to the Government of Costa Rica by Her Majesty's Government under the terms of the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended is £3,880,441.25. Since that date repayments under this loan have been rescheduled on nine occasions and arrears of interest have been consolidated into the original loan.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further discussions there have been between the Government of Costa Rica and Her Majesty's Government with regard to the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended, since the debt rescheduling agreement of 18 November 1993. [2542]

Clare Short

There have been no discussions of the agreement since the 18 November 1993 rescheduling. We have drawn the attention of the Costa Rican authorities to arrears whenever they have arisen, which has resulted in their being cleared.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the total sum paid by the Government of Costa Rica to Her Majesty's Government under the terms of the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended; and how much of this is(a) principal and (b) interest. [2547]

Clare Short

The total sum paid to date by the Government of Costa Rica to Her Majesty's Government under the terms of the loan agreement dated 15 February 1973, as amended £7,105,106.87; of this £4,828,039.28 is principal and £2,277,067.59 is interest.