§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to insist that the World bank cancels debts incurred by the Governments of poor countries on loans granted in contravention of the bank's own guidelines.
§ Mr. BaldryWe will continue to work with other shareholders to ensure that the bank has appropriate systems and procedures in place and abides by its operational guidelines.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that the World bank adopts policies compatible with the recommendations of the all-party parliamentary group on overseas development on sub-Saharan multilateral debt; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryThe recommendations in the all-party parliamentary group's report on Africa's multilateral debt are being given careful consideration.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will encourage Governments borrowing from the World bank and the International Monetary Fund to release loan documents at the end of each cycle of 18 months to two years;
(2) if he will encourage countries borrowing from the International Monetary Fund and the World bank to release policy framework papers setting out macro-economic and structural policy measures and social and environmental information.
§ Mr. BaldryThe bank and the fund encourage borrowers to make as much information as possible available locally about development priorities and 519W programmes, including policy framework papers and project-related documentation.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of recent moves to increase transparency and accountability in the operations of the World bank; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryWe welcomed the presumption in favour of disclosure, on which the bank's board of directors decided in August 1993, and the resulting significant expansion in the range of information about the bank's policies and operations which is now publicly available. The revised disclosure of information policy is scheduled for review after one year of implementation; and we shall consider carefully with other shareholders whether improvements are needed.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining the Government's response to the German proposals to increase accountability of the World bank.
§ Mr. BaldryWe have not been informed of any German initiative in this area.