HC Deb 26 July 1974 vol 877 cc597-8W
Mr. Cordle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any, and if so what part, of the national debt of Ghana which is owing to the United Kingdom has been cancelled as a result of the recent discussions held in Rome.

Mr. Dell

International agreement was reached at a meeting in Rome in March of this year whereby the medium-term external debt owed by Ghana to certain of her trading partners would be rescheduled. However, the amount of the indebtedness in question has yet to be determined by means of discussion between Ghana and each creditor country concerned.

Mr. Cordle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been loaned by the United Kingdom to Ghana, in each of the years since that country attained its independence, in order to help fund that country's national debt.

Mr. Dell

The United Kingdom has participated in a number of agreements since independence whereby the medium-term external debts of Ghana were rescheduled. However, on only one occasion, in 1971, was a re-financing loan made by the United Kingdom. This was in the amount of £2.5 million.