Clare Short: Urging more action

He said that inaction which had caused the delay in relief to nations under the UK's own scheme was unacceptable.

"We welcome the government's move to establish this implementation body but it's a sad state of affairs when so few countries will be receiving debt relief that 19,000 children are still dying everyday in Africa.

"Debt is costing lives."

But he added: "One of the problems with the delay is that countries have to produce a poverty reduction strategy paper before they can go forward into HiPC.

"In theory the paper is a good idea but in practice it's another obstacle."

Mr Farmaner said that international creditors should provide immediate debt relief to nations who have completed this document on the basis of their need not on what they can or cannot afford to pay back.

"The UK is not pushing for a new debt relief deal at the coming G8 meeting.

"There are nations who desperately need this relief but cannot get it.

Bangladesh, for instance, is spending 30% of its budget on servicing debt and has appalling problems with stunted growth among children through malnutrition.

"But it does not even qualify for HiPC."