§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made towards cancelling the debt burden of Mozambique as part of Britain's contribution to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. [30926]
§ Mrs. Liddell[holding answer 23 February 1998]: The UK has consistently supported a full and final exit for Mozambique from its debt burden under the HIPC initiative. On 17 February, the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for International Development pledged to provide a bilateral contribution of up to $10 million to help Mozambique to this end. This money is in addition to the debt relief agreed through the Paris Club of Government Creditors and other assistance that the UK has already committed.
A final agreement is currently being negotiated at the IMF and World Bank in Washington.