§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received from Jubilee 2000; and if she will make a statement. [3807]
§ Clare ShortJubilee 2000 have been in touch with me on a number of occasions, most recently on 11 June, when I met representatives of the Debt Crisis Network to discuss their latest proposal for reducing the debts of the poorest countries.
I welcome the efforts of the Debt Crisis Network, and other non-governmental organisations, in raising awareness in the UK and elsewhere of the debt problems faced by many developing countries. We share a common objective—the eradication of poverty in developing countries. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries debt initiative, which aims to reduce the debts of qualifying countries to affordable levels, will play an important part in helping to achieve this. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and I shall be pressing for early and flexible implementation of this initiative in the appropriate fora, such as this week's G7 Summit in Denver.