Mekong River Basin

HC Deb 13 July 1988 vol 137 cc203-5W

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the extent of participation by Her Majesty's Government in the United

by date of orginal loan, (b) by name of country, (c) by amount of orginal loan, (d) the orginal terms for repayment and (e) the revised terms for repayment.

Mr. Chris Patten

Following agreement in the Paris club certain payments of principal and interest due in respect of past aid loans have been rescheduled. The information on such rescheduling since 1983 is as follows:

Nations project for the Mekong river basin; what proposals are being discussed for the resumption of the original programme; and if he will now reappraise the opportunities offered by that project in the light of recent changes in the area.

Mr. Chris Patten

We expect to spend about £100,000 in the current financial year in support of two projects managed by the interim Mekong committee. While there has been no attempt as yet to reconstitute the full committee, we are monitoring current political developments closely.