HC Deb 23 April 1998 vol 310 cc695-6W
22. Mr. Coaker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Church leaders on his policy to reduce the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38266]

Mrs. Liddell

The Government have made considerable progress in securing international agreement to the Mauritius Mandate and will continue to press for its speedy and determined implementation. Since his Mauritius Mandate statement to the Commonwealth Finance Ministers last September, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has held a number of meetings with religious leaders and NGO heads to discuss the issue of debt relief and keep them informed of progress.

25. Mr. Davidson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38269]

Mrs. Liddell

The Government are fully committed to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative that was launched by the IMF and World Bank in September 1996. In his speech to Commonwealth Finance Ministers in Mauritius last year, the Chancellor called on the international community to commit itself to dealing with the problem of unsustainable debt burdens faced by the world's poorest countries once and for all. He urged creditors and debtors to undertake action in order to ensure that at least three-quarters of the twenty countries, initially identified by the World Bank and IMF as probably needing debt relief under the HIPC initiative, have had decisions on the size and timing of their relief by the year 2000.

The Chancellor also encouraged all countries identified under the initiative to embark on the process of securing debt relief by the millennium.

The Government have made considerable progress towards securing international commitment to implementing the Mauritius Mandate. The Government will continue in their efforts to ensure that the Mauritius Mandate targets are met.

31. Ann Clwyd

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his policy to reduce the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38275]

Mrs. Liddell

The Chancellor has recently given evidence to the International Development Committee of this House, and has attended the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings in Washington.

32. Mr. David Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Church leaders in relation to reducing the debt burden of the poorest countries. [38276]

Mrs. Liddell

Since his Mauritius Mandate statement to Commonwealth Finance Ministers last September, the Chancellor has held a number of meetings with religious leaders and NGO heads to discuss the issue of debt relief.

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