HC Deb 29 April 1991 vol 190 c25W
Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the estimates of outstanding debt for(a) Sudan, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Ghana, (d) Zambia and (e) Uganda.

Mrs. Chalker

According to the World bank debt tables 1990–91, the total external debts outstanding for the five countries listed are as follows:

Total external Debt (US$ millions)
Sudan 12,965
Zimbabwe 3,088
Ghana 3,087
Zambia 6,874
Uganda 1,808

Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what concessions have been given to(a) Sudan, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Ghana, (d) Zambia and (e) Uganda in respect of repayment of debt to bankers and the Government during the last three years.

Mrs. Chalker

For Ghana, Sudan and Uganda during the last three years Her Majesty's Government have cancelled old aid loans worth £10.4 million, £1.3 million and £1.3 million respectively, under their scheme for retrospective terms adjustment. Zimbabwe and Ghana have strong records of servicing their debts and have avoided the need for rescheduling. Uganda and Zambia have received concessional reschedulings of their official debts to Government creditors under Toronto terms during the last three years: Uganda in January 1989 and Zambia in July 1990. Sudan has been unable to reach agreement with her creditors and has allowed substantial debt arrears to accumulate. None of the countries listed has reached debt relief agreements with its commercial bank creditors during the last three years.