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Monetary Policy Committee

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he uses to decide whether the Monetary Policy Committee members have knowledge and experience which is likely to be relevant to the Committee's functions; and on what grounds he decides whether to renew their membership. [130313]

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Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 13 July 2000]: All members appointed to the MCP have distinguished professional track records in fields relevant to monetary policy. In deciding whether or not to reappoint external members the Chancellor takes into account the need to strike a balance between continuity and ensuring that there are opportunities to bring new ideas and perspectives into the MCP at regular intervals.

Fuel Duty

Mr. Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of allowing duty on fuel products to be paid at the terminal instead of at the point at which they leave the refinery. [130717]

Mr. Timms: I have made no such assessment.

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Nigeria

Ms Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement in respect of debt owed by Nigeria to the UK. [130991]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The UK welcomes Nigeria's new democratic government and its determination to push ahead with economic reform. As Nigeria's largest creditor we have been working to help Nigeria resolve its debt burden within the context of IMF support so that freed-up resources can be devoted to poverty eradication. The Chancellor has taken a two-stage approach: first, a generous debt rescheduling at the Paris Club once an IMF programme has been agreed; and then, once Nigeria has built a track record of reform, the UK has made clear that it would be willing to consider partial debt cancellation subject to a debt sustainability analysis.

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