§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of debt and interest repaid on UK Government development aid loans to heavily indebted poor countries each year since 1983. [25237]
§ Clare ShortThe value of debt and interest repaid on aid loans to the UK by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) since 1983 is £5.292 million. Details of the amounts repaid by these countries, by year, from 1 April 1983, are shown in the table.
In July 1978, bilateral agreements to write off all outstanding balances on loans were reached with Kenya, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Tanzania. Since then, we have written off all UK aid loans to Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia. In addition, my Department has taken the unilateral decision to forgive outstanding aid loans to Liberia and Laos. These loans are being written off as they become due.
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Amounts repaid by HIPC countries £000 Principal interest 1983–84 1,896 424 1984–85 1,784 387 1985–86 487 163 1986–87 56 20 1987–88 56 19 1988–89 — — 1989–90 — — 1990–91 — — 1991–92 — —
Amounts repaid by HIPC countries £000 Principal interest 1992–93 — — 1993–94 — — 1994–95 — — 1995–96 — — 1996–97 — — 1997–98 — — 1998–99 — — 1999–2000 — — 2000–01 4,279 1,013
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Government development aid in the form of loans to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries was(a) forgiven and (b) converted to gift in each year since 1983. [25242]
§ Clare ShortSince 1978, the Government have cancelled aid loans to all the poorest countries, not just the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC). Since 1983, £142.714 million worth of aid loans, including interest accrued, has been forgiven for HIPC countries; details are set out, by year, in the table. In all cases, loans were converted to grants or "gifts".
In July 1978, bilateral agreements to write off all outstanding balances on loans were reached with Kenya, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Tanzania. Since then, we have written off all UK aid loans to Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia. In addition, my Department has taken the unilateral decision to forgive outstanding aid loans to Liberia and Laos. These loans are being written off as they become due.
Debt of HIPC countries forgiven £000 Principal Interest Total 1983–84 — — — 1984–85 142 — 142 1985–96 1,881 330 2,211 1986–87 3,217 412 3,629 1987–88 3,021 265 3,286 1988–89 3,604 235 3,839 1989–90 3,504 196 3,700 1990–91 30,609 534 31,143 1991–92 10,205 569 10,774 1992–93 8,065 393 8,458 1993–94 7,879 437 8,316 1994–95 7,298 434 7,732 1995–96 7,366 460 7,826 1996–97 7,055 417 7,472 1997–98 9,598 748 10,346 1998–99 8,964 1,975 10,939 1999–2000 8,505 3,211 11,716 2000–01 8,061 3,124 11,185 128,974 13,740 142,714
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was the value of UK development loans to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries outstanding(a) at 31 March 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [25236]
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§ Clare ShortThe UK has written off all its aid loans to all the poorest countries. At 31 March 1997, outstanding development loans of £112,868,216 (principal £99,745,306; interest £13,122,910) to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) were included in DFID's accounts. By 31 March 2001, this figure had been reduced to £68,224,071 (principal £62,852,664; interest £5,371,407). Payments are written off as they become due.