§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost will be to the United Kingdom of implementing the proposal that the repayable debts of the world's poorest countries should be cancelled by 2000. [7811]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Government does not share the view that debts of the world's poorest countries should be cancelled by 2000. We believe that debt relief is important, but must be accompanied by a clear commitment by debtors to balanced economic reform programmes to create the conditions for economic development and lasting poverty reduction. Decisions on which countries qualify for debt relief, and on the amount of relief necessary to reduce their debts to sustainable levels, should be taken on a case-by-case basis.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost will be to the United Kingdom of the implementation of the HIPC initiative. [7810]
§ Mrs. LiddellIt is impossible to say in advance how much UK debt will be written down under the HIPC initiative. Decisions on which countries qualify for debt relief, and on the amount of relief necessary to reduce their debts to sustainable levels, are taken on a case-by-case basis.