Brown's trip to Africa

11.07.02am GMT Fri 14th Jan 2005

Gordon Brown is on a tour of African nations at the moment had announced the the UK will relieve part of Tanzania's debt to the World Bank. Tanzania is one of the world's poorest nations. It is also suggested that he will make a similar announcement about Mozambique tomorrow.

These are two very welcome steps and it was particularly good to see the Tanzanian Government has responded to Brown's move by saying it would be able to move towards having 50% of children in secondary education by 2015.

Mr Brown has stated that he intended to service the interest payments and capital repayments of 10% of all the debt owed to the World Bank by the 70 poorest nations, again a very welcome move.