To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the International Development Association regarding the economic prospects of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa; and if he will make a statement.

We are in regular touch with the World bank about the economic prospects of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, especially through periodic consultative group meetings for individual countries and through the special programme of assistance for sub-Saharan Africa, a mechanism for co-ordinating bilateral and multilateral assistance to support economic reform in the region.