HC Deb 25 February 1999 vol 326 cc417-8W
Ms Southworth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the expected reduction in total public expenditure on servicing debt for (i) those countries which have reached the completion point and (ii) all countries within, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative for(a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001 and (e) 2002. [71390]

Ms Hewitt

Only two countries have reached completion point under the HIPC initiative: Uganda and Bolivia. The IMF has not produced estimates of the expected reduction in total public expenditure on servicing debt for Uganda, or for other countries within the HIPC initiative. Their estimate of the expected reduction in total public expenditure on servicing debt for Bolivia (in $ millions) is as follows:

Year £million
1998 4.5
1999 15.4
2000 17.9
2001 20.6
2002 6.8

Mr. Goggins

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will press for the inclusion of Malawi in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. [71394]

Ms Hewitt

The IMF does not currently consider Malawi to be eligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. However, should Malawi's debt burden become unsustainable, the UK would press strongly for Malawi to be considered for immediate HIPC relief.

Ms Southworth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the policy of the new Government in Germany towards debt relief for those countries included in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. [71391]

Ms Hewitt

The UK welcome the German debt initiative, which in many ways reinforces the Chancellor's Mauritius Mandate of September 1997. The UK and new German Governments share similar approaches to the issues of debt relief and development in the world's poorest countries.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Terms of Reference of the Fundamental Review of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have been agreed; and if Her Majesty's Government will seek the integration of internationally agreed poverty reduction targets in a reformed HIPC Initiative. [72193]

Ms Hewitt

The IMF have not yet set the Terms of Reference of the forthcoming HIPC Review. The UK has taken the lead in pressing for the link between debt relief and poverty reduction to be a key focus of the review, and to be looked at by an external evaluator.