Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about debt cancellation for the poorest countries in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
I share you concerns about the debt vulnerabilities in developing countries, which have been amplified by coronavirus, and am pleased that the UK has made available up to £150 million to the International Monetary Fund's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust to help developing countries meet their debt repayments.
Of course, responding to this crisis requires international cooperation. The UK, alongside the G20 and the Paris Club of official creditors, has committed to an historic suspension of debt repayment from the world's poorest countries. This will see official creditors provide up to $12 billion of cash-flow relief, which, importantly, will enable countries to focus available resources on tackling coronavirus and ensure that they can direct greater resources to vital healthcare efforts rather than interest payments. The Chancellor and G20 Finance Ministers have publicly called for the private sector voluntarily to participate in this initiative as well and, if it did so to the full extent, that would provide another $10 billion of breathing space for these countries.
The agreement also provides time to assess what further assistance these countries may need as the full economic impact becomes clearer, for example, through the restructuring of debt. I know that the Government is keeping all options under review.
I am proud that the UK is at the forefront of the global response to Covid-19, whilst also delivering our 0.7 international development commitment and helping the most vulnerable in the world’s poorest countries.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Mel Stride MP
MP for Central Devon
