§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will press for the immediate suspension of debt repayments under the HIPC initiative for(a) Malawi, (b) Mozambique and (c) Zambia [74525]
§ Clare ShortMalawi, Mozambique and Zambia — which are among the very poorest countries in the world — have all qualified for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative. Malawi and Zambia have reached Decision Point, and are already receiving debt relief. Mozambique has passed Completion Point and is now receiving full debt relief. These countries have completed a full poverty reduction strategy paper setting out how resources, including savings from debt 657W relief, will be spent, thereby ensuring the maximum possible impact on poverty reduction. To address the current food security problem in the region, the UK has provided £26.5 million in humanitarian relief to these three countries since September 2001.