§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made to the DTI in the past three months regarding the cancellation of export credit guarantee debt. [96217]
§ Clare ShortDebt is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I work closely with the Chancellor on debt and our combined efforts have enabled the Government to deliver their objectives on the revision to the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. The new HIPC framework will deliver twice as much debt relief, and the link to poverty reduction has been greatly strengthened with the introduction of poverty reduction strategies. This provides an opportunity to make much greater progress on eliminating poverty and achieving the international development targets. My officials work closely with those from Treasury, Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), on HIPC and other aspects of the Government's debt policy, including the assistance provided on the UK's export credit debt in the context of the Paris Club of bilateral creditors.