§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific initiatives have been taken by Her Majesty's Government during the course of Britain's presidency of the EC on(a) mutual and co-ordinated untying of aid by all EC donors, (b) reduction of debts owed by the poorest countries to the EC, to individual EC member countries and to commercial banks and (c) promoting development education in EC countries.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAt the Development Council on Wednesday 18 November 1992 the Commission will report on progress made during the British presidency of the EC on framing a proposal for the untying of aid at the Community level.
Britain has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to relieve the burden of debt on the poorest, most heavily indebted countries. As a result of the Prime Minister's Trinidad's term initiative, 10 countries have benefited from substantial reductions in their debts to governments. Debt servicing payments to the EC from loans made available under successive European development funds are recycled to provide new financing to developing countries. 61W The United Kingdom, in common with its EC partners, is already encouraging commercial bank debt reduction through the Brady plan.
No specific initiatives have been taken during our presidency to promote development education in EC countries.