Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration is given to national debt levels, and resourcing of such debt, when developing UK aid and foreign policy for African countries.

We work with our African partners to encourage them to manage debt effectively and ensure any new borrowing is in line with international standards and used for productive investment. The UK also works with a range of actors, including borrowers, creditors (private sector and bilateral) and international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, to promote debt sustainability and transparency. Our focus is on creating an international debt system that supports borrowers to make the right decisions for long-term African growth and prosperity.