§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Minister of Overseas Development in how many instances has (a) the interest and (b) the principle of a loan extended to countries of the Third world been written off during the period from 1st March 1974; and what is the total value in each case.
§ Mrs. HartI refer the hon. Gentleman to my announcement on 31st July—[Vol. 955, c. 24–25.] Other than the loans included in these arrangements, 59 loans by Her Majesty's Government to Third world countries have been written off since 1st March 1974. The details are as follows:
Country Interest Principal £ £ Dominica — 989.58 (4 instances) — 950.00 — 910.42 — 790.00 Grenada — 2,484.00 (6 instances) — 310,4.00 — 1,918.00 — 1,851.00 — 1,100.00 — 674.00 St. Kitts — 13,708.00 (2 instances) 3,064.98 181,5.00 Costa Rica 79,402.84 — (4 instances) 93,604.93 — 103,730.96 — 106,292.05 — Nepal (1 instance) — 100,000.00 Tanzania (22 instances) Totalling 15,549.00 7,799,267.00 Pakistan* (20 instances) Totalling 1,853,030.00 11,446,596.00 Totals 2,254,674.76 19,376,157.00 * Apart from the totals written off, grants totalling £11.436 million were made to Pakistan for relief in respect of further debt service payments due in 1976–77 and 1977–78. Under the United Kingdom/Pakistan Debt Relief Agreement 1976, Her Majesty's Government also relieved Pakistan of liability to repay £31,010,279 in respect of projects located in Bangladesh.