Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the sovereignty and independence of states of high levels of debt.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently reported that almost 40% of Low Income Countries (LICs) now face significant debt-related challenges, up from 21% in 2013. The Government recognises that rising sovereign debt levels have led to increased debt vulnerabilities in many LICs.

Though the Government has not made its own assessment of the effect of high debt levels on the sovereignty and independence of states, high levels of debt can leave countries exposed to adverse exogenous shocks, like fluctuating commodity prices. Given the complex international nature of LIC sovereign debt, we continue to believe that internationally-agreed assessments and coordinated approaches to tackle debt vulnerability are most effective. The UK will continue to work through fora such as the IMF, World Bank, G20, and the Paris Club to promote LIC debt sustainability.