HC Deb 07 July 1987 vol 119 cc76-7W
Mr. Andrew Smith

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will he attending the United Nations conference on trade and development in Geneva in July.

Mr. Alan Clark

I shall attend as leader of the United Kingdom delegation.

Mr. Andrew Smith

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals Her Majesty's Government will be making through the European Community or on their own, to the United Nations conference on trade and development in order to assist developing countries in the areas of aid, trade and debt.

Mr. Alan Clark

The United Kingdom will reaffirm its policy of offering effective support through the United Kingdom aid programme for the poorest developing countries, especially those undertaking IMF-IBRD agreed structural adjustment. We shall confirm our support for the internationally agreed debt strategy, stressing the Chancellor's new initiative for the poorest, most heavily indebted sub-Saharan African countries. This involves the provision of additional resources to relieve official debt in those countries adopting sound policies. We shall also emphasise the importance of active participation by developing countries in the Uruguay round and underline the constructive part which the United Kingdom and the European Community are playing in these negotiations.