HC Deb 24 January 2000 vol 343 cc46-8W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much debt service he estimates will be received from each of the heavily-indebted poor countries in the financial years(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01. [105745]

Mr. Caborn

The UK has debt agreements with 32 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). The table shows payments due to ECGD under these agreements together with an estimate of amounts likely to be received by the end of each year, assuming the schedules remain unchanged. However a number of these HIPCs will benefit from further debt reduction and rescheduling in the current year under the enhanced HIPC Initiative. This provides for up to 90 per cent. debt reduction multilaterally, or more in the case of need. Additionally some will benefit from the Chancellor's recent announcement that the UK will unilaterally write off 100 per cent. of the debt in certain circumstances. The extent of further debt reduction and the timing thereof for each country depends on a number of factors. Consequently it is not yet possible to gauge with any accuracy the effect on the current estimates.

Estimate of receipts from HIPCs 1999–2000 and 2000–01 (assuming current debt agreements remain unchanged)
£ million
Country Amount due 1999–2000 Estimate of receipts by 31 March 2000 Amount due 2000–01 Estimate of receipts by 31 March 2001
Angola 10.373 nil 10.373 nil
Benin 0.180 0.180 0.169 0.169
Bolivia 0.803 0.627 0.502 0.502
Burkina
Faso 0.059 0.059 0.037 0.020
C.A.R. 0.069 nil 0.011 nil
Cameroon 1.414 1.414 2.379 2.379

Estimate of receipts from HIPCs 1999–2000 and 2000–01 (assuming current debt agreements remain unchanged)
£ million
Country Amount due 1999–2000 Estimate of receipts by 31 March 2000 Amount due 2000–01 Estimate of receipts by 31 March 2001
Congo
Republic 14.447 nil 10.165 nil
Congo D.R. 11.753 nil 11.753 nil
Cote
d'Ivoire 2.619 0.068 0.087 0.087
Ethiopia 0.478 0.478 0.429 0.429
Ghana 1.434 0.721 0.722 0.722
Guinea
Republic 0.673 0.103 0.613 0.613
Guyana 2.476 1.607 1.548 1.548
Kenya 11.770 6.850 13.108 13.108
Liberia nil nil nil nil
Madagascar 0.263 0.263 1.290 1.290
Malawi 0.117 0.117 0.100 0.100
Mali 0.638 nil 0.657 nil
Mauritania 0.638 nil 0.638 nil
Mozambique 11.176 nil 12.159 12.159
Nicaragua 0.031 nil 0.007 0.007
Senegal 0.015 0.015 0.403 0.403
Sierra
Leone 0.128 nil 0.135 0.135
Somali
Republic 0.456 nil 0.456 nil
Sudan 11.253 nil 10.566 10.566
Tanzania 1.732 1.732 11.999 11.999
Togo 2.042 nil 2.245 nil
Uganda 0.291 0.291 0.291 0.291
Vietnam 0.318 0.318 0.232 0.232
Yemen 0.189 0.189 0.118 0.118
Zambia 0.885 0.868 1.031 1.031

Note:

With the exception of Nicaragua for whom a Moratorium was agreed `nil' is shown where countries have not been servicing debt. Liberia's final payment date was in 1998 therefore no payments are scheduled. However they have not paid for many years and there are arrears of some £15.7 million.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much total bilateral debt service was received by Her Majesty's Government from each of the heavily-indebted poor countries in the financial year 1998–99. [105738]

Mr. Caborn

[holding answer 20 January 2000]: In the financial year 1998–99 a total of £39.628 million was received from heavily-indebted poor countries under bilateral debt agreements. The table shows a country by country breakdown.

Receipts from HIPCS in 1998–99 under bilateral debt agreements
£ million
Country Amounts received 1998–99
Angola nil
Benin 0.216
Bolivia 1.083
Burkina Faso 0.081
C.A.R. nil
Cameroon 1.858
Congo Republic nil
Congo D.R. nil
Cote d'Ivoire 0.268
Ethiopia 0.564

Receipts from HIPCS in 1998–99 under bilateral debt agreements
£ million
Country Amounts received 1998–99
Ghana 1.397
Guinea Republic 0.154
Guyana 3.438
Kenya 11.537
Liberia nil
Madagascar 0.464
Malawi 0.086
Mali 0.270
Mauritania 0.321
Mozambique nil
Nicaragua 0.039
Senegal 0.020
Sierra Leone nil
Somalia Republic nil
Sudan nil
Tanzania 9.806
Togo 0.161
Uganda 0.275
Vietnam 0.851
Yemen 3.491
Zambia 3.248

Note:

Where 'nil' is shown the countries have not been servicing this debt.