§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's policy in relation to the Jubilee 2000 coalition campaign to cancel debt. [46734]
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§ Clare ShortBoth the Government and the Jubilee 2000 Coalition recognise the important part debt relief can play in the eradication of poverty. We seek the same overall objective—the remission of the unpayable debts of the world's poorest countries. Her Majesty's Government welcome the work that Jubilee 2000 and its associates have been doing to raise public awareness of these issues, and thus keep debt relief firmly on the international political agenda. This has helped us to get agreement at last month's G8 Summit in Birmingham to one of the main aims of the Government's Mauritius Mandate—to ensure that by the year 2000 all eligible highly indebted poor countries will have at least begun the process which will lead to debt relief.