asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he makes of the economic position of the front-line states in southern Africa.

A number of front-line states in southern Africa are experiencing severe economic problems, caused by worsening terms of trade, heavy debt burdens, regional insecurity and in some cases civil conflict and inappropriate economic policies. We are supporting the front-line states' economic development and efforts to reduce their economic dependence on South Africa. We are giving substantial support through bilateral and multilateral aid programmes, amounting to over US$1 billion to the region since 1980–81; we have also pledged £35 million to the Southern African development coordination conference for development in the front-line states, particularly Mozambique.