HC Deb 16 December 1998 vol 322 cc577-8W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those nations of the Arabian peninsula, the Middle East and Central Asia in which ECGD(a) short term and (b) long term and project cover (i) is not currently available but is under review and (ii) is currently available and the dates on which such cover was agreed. [62917]

Mr. Wilson

[holding answer 9 December 1998]: The markets where ECGD is on cover for (a) short term and (b) long term and project cover and the dates which such cover was agreed are as follows:

£
Country Date of Paris Agreement ECGD debt rescheduled
Senegal 17 June 2,630,000
Indonesia 23 September 260,000,000
Central African Republic 25 September 461,000
Bosnia 28 October 5,000,000
Bolivia 30 October 48,393,000
Russia A recent request has still to be discussed

The Paris Club will shortly consider a request from Nicaragua in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. On 10 November the Chancellor and the International Development Secretary announced a willingness to explore, with other creditors, some kind of moratorium on debt for Nicaragua and Honduras.