Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the appropriate fraction of Special Drawing Rights received this year to re-channel into support for poorer countries.

A general allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) equivalent to about $650bn became effective in August. The Chancellor has committed to channelling up to SDR 4bn to support vulnerable countries, representing circa 20% of the UK’s allocation, starting with an additional loan of SDR 1bn to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust which provides zero interest loans to low-income countries.