Written question asked by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 February 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 February 1998. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Friday, 27 February 1998 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the total official debt owed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what was the amount spent by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the former Zaire on (a) debt service, (b) health and (c) education, in terms of (i) US dollars, (ii) US dollars per capita, (iii) percentage of GNP and (iv) percentage of government expenditure, in each of the last three years. - Inc figs.

Answer: Mr. Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the total official debt owed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and what was the amount spent by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the former Zaire on (a) debt service, (b) health and (c) education, in terms of (i) US dollars, (ii) US dollars per capita, (iii) percentage of GNP and (iv) percentage of government expenditure, in each of the last three years. [31669] Clare Short: Reliable budgetary statistics are not available. However, the World Bank estimated total outstanding debt in 1996 at US$ 12.8 billion, equivalent to 200% of GNP. It was 36% in arrears. There is little detailed information on public expenditure. The World Bank is mounting a mission next month to tackle this. We hope to provide an expert for the team.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 31669; 307 c378W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Debts Health Education Public expenditure World Bank Zaire Democratic Republic of the Congo
Contains statistics: Yes