HC Deb 20 April 1998 vol 310 c407W
Sir Alastair Goodlad

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries her Department provided support to banking supervisory and regulatory authorities in 1997–98; and what plans she has for such support in 1998–99. [39185]

Clare Short

In 1997–98 the Department for International Development provided support to banking supervisory and regulatory authorities in the following countries:

  • India
  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Moldova
  • Slovak Republic
  • Czech Republic
  • Bosnia

We have also provided some support to the Bank of England's Centre for Central Banking Studies.

For Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS regions, in 1998–99 we will continue to support the Central Bank of Russia and other authorities where we have a useful contribution to make. Support to the Reserve Bank of India will continue and, in view of the recent events in South East and East Asia, we intend to make available support to banking authorities in this region. We are also currently exploring, in collaboration with other organisations, the role we can play in building sound regulatory structures for microfinance institutions.