§ Lord BROCKWAYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What decisions they have made to relieve developing countries of their debts, stating the nations involved and in each case the amount cancelled.
§ Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIESof HASTOE: The Minister for Overseas Development announced on 31st July that as part of their aid policy the Government are taking steps to remove the burden of past aid loans, through the retrospective adjustment of terms (RTA) or other equivalent measures, in respect of 17 of the poorest developing countries. These are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, the Gambia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Western Samoa. The total principal and interest involved to the end of the century is more than £900 million. Our calculations of the amounts involved for each developing country will have to be agreed with the respective Governments, but our present estimate is:—
£ million Afghanistan 1.0 Bangladesh 15.9 Botswana 15.5 Egypt 18.4 Gambia 5.4 India 576.1 Indonesia 38.6 Kenya 74.6 Lesotho 0.4 Malawi 31.3 Nepal 2.1 Pakistan(1) 100.1 Sierra Leone 9.2 Sri Lanka 25.5 Sudan 10.2 Tanzania 3.5 W. Samoa 0.2 Total: 928.0 (1) The figures for total debt service due from Pakistan include £31 million of principal and accrued interest on ODA loans made to Pakistan in respect of projects located in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The transfer of responsibility for these loans to Bangladesh is being negotiated.