§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Overseas Development Administration's most recent assessment of the economic situation in sub-Saharan Africa; what are the economic prospects for Africa over the next 10 years on the basis of current international plans of action; and whether Her Majesty's Government will support the drawing up of a new international plan of action for economic recovery.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe situation of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the poorest, is likely to continue to be difficult and challenging. Where African Governments are implementing economic and political reforms, these are producing positive results which the United Kingdom and the rest of the international community will continue to encourage and support. This support takes the form of substantial concessional aid, debt relief measures and trading arrangements which provide good access for exports from African countries into important markets including the EC; foreign private investment can be increasingly important where African Governments create the right conditions.
A framework for guiding international support is already in place at a regional level, through the global coalition for Africa and the special programme of assistance to sub-Saharan Africa and at country level. These arrangements allow African governments, OECD country Governments and key international agencies to collaborate and to co-ordinate support.