Current status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 5 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the support it provides to projects in such countries through its International Development Fund, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the Cancel Debt, Choose Hope campaign, which calls for governments to champion improvements to the debt cancellation process for lower-income countries.
Debt repayments put extra burden for low-income countries and take way resources from much needed investment in key areas such as health and education. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our partner countries in efforts towards SDGs with funding for programmes focused on health, inclusive education, equalities, renewable energy, and climate justice.
The Scottish Government has continued to raise with UK Government the financial pressures on global south countries, including Scottish Government partner countries, through the reduction of aid, eg UK Aid from 0.7% to 0.5% of GNI.
We have also consistently called for funding to address loss and damage to be provided as grants, not loans, so that vulnerable communities can access support without adding to their debt burden. However, we have not had discussion with the UK Government regarding the live Cancel Debt, Choose Hope campaign to demand action on unjust debt.