HC Deb 16 December 1992 vol 216 cc255-6W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish for 1989, 1990 and 1991 a breakdown of the write-offs and debt reduction instruments given in note 2 of "British Aid Statistics 1987–88 to 1991–92", identifying each element separately and including (a) debt write-off, (b) debt rescheduling and (c) bank reserves held as provision against bad debts.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The requested breakdown of the figures in note 2 of "British Aid Statistics" is:

£ million 1989 1990 1991
Write-offs 1,280 2,650 230
Debt reduction instruments 2,930 850
Write-offs and debt reduction instruments 1,280 5,580 1,080

Debt rescheduling does not affect the net banking flows, as no net repayment is involved.

Bank reserves held as provision against bad debts also do not affect the net banking flows, as loans are reported gross of such provisions.

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