JUBILEE 2000

Early day motion 1122, tabled 23 March 1998 by Frank Cook (Labour). Signed by 98 members.

That this House is concerned at the heavy burden of unpayable debts borne by the poorest countries in the world; notes that each year these countries spend far more on servicing debt than on promoting education and health; accepts that responsibility for high debt levels rests with both lenders and borrowers; congratulates previous and present British governments on past positive approaches toward debt relief; welcomes the efforts of the wide range of organisations which make up the Jubilee 2000 Coalition in highlighting the need for debt cancellation; and calls on the Government to use its presidency of the G8 summit on 15th to 17th May to secure agreement for a one-off cancellation of the unpayable debts of the world's poorest countries by the year 2000 and internationally to press for the formulation of collective policies to ensure effective measures to prevent such high levels of debt building up again.

Signatures by party: Labour 71, Conservative 8, Labour/Co-operative 6, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 1.