§ Mr. SackvilleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meetings of Finance Ministers in Washington.
§ Mr. LawsonA number of meetings of Finance Ministers took place in Washington last week.
There was useful progress on a range of issues. The major industrial countries reaffirmed their commitment to co-ordinate economic policies and promote greater exchange rate stability.
The problems of the poorest, most heavily indebted countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa were again highlighted. I welcome in particular the establishment of the enhanced structural adjustment facility (the ESAF) where the United Kingdom has pledged the largest single contribution to the interest rate subsidy on ESAF lending; and the World Bank's special programme of assistance for sub-Saharan Africa. Progress has also been made on the United Kingdom's own initiative to provide debt relief to the poorest countries through the Paris Club, and I am continuing to work to secure agreement on interest rate reductions on Paris Club reschedulings.
There was general agreement that the continuing problems of highly indebted middle-income countries are best dealt with by continuation of the present approach and by further exploring market-related solutions, including extensions of the "menu" of options.
Copies of the communiques issued and of my statements to the meetings have been deposited in the House of Commons Library.
Number and proportion of pupils in one teacher classes of over 30 pupils January 1987 Primary1 Secondary1 Pupils per cent. Pupils per cent. Barking 714 5.7 95 1.2 Barnet 2,260 11.3 1,092 6.6 Bexley 3,813 24.4 808 6.1 Brent 898 5.1 286 2.5 Bromley 4,226 22.8 1,279 8.2 Croydon 4,456 20.6 1,657 9.9 Ealing 2,885 14.3 384 3.4 Enfield 5,083 27.2 2,123 13.5 Haringey 247 1.7 31 0.3 Harrow 3,684 26.5 426 4.9 Havering 3,303 18.8 1,345 8.3 Hillingdon 3,044 18.5 941 7.1 Hounslow 3,158 21.5 928 7.8 Kingston upon Thames 2,715 33.5 849 12.4 Merton 1,930 25.1 515 4.7 Newham 589 3.3 312 2.4 Redbridge 7,383 49.2 1,451 11.5 Richmond upon Thames 1,278 15.5 440 7.2 Sutton 3,289 32.8 1,638 15.9