§ 12. Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals she has made to write off the bilateral debt of the poorest countries. [14119]
§ Clare ShortThe British Government have already written off £1.2 billion of all aid debt. On 15 September, I announced a new programme to cancel the aid debts of lower income Commonwealth countries which are committed to the internationally agreed development targets, to good government, to rooting out corruption, and applying economic policies which benefit the poor. Offers have already been made to seven countries and discussions have started with others.