Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (Hansard, 9 May 2001)

HC Deb 09 May 2001 vol 368 c191W 191W

§ Mr. Alan Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the share of world trade of each of the most indebted countries(a) in 1980 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available. [159762]

§ Clare Short
In 1980 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) held a share in world merchandise and services trade of 0.87 per cent. The figure in 1998 was 0.57 per cent. Over this period the volume of exports in merchandise and services rose from $21 billion to $38 billion. There are 41 HIPC countries. Figures for 1980 were not available in 11 of these countries. Figures for 1998 were not available in seven.