§ 38. Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held recently concerning assistance to Poland.
§ Mr. BaldryMy right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited Poland from 7 to 10 November. Polish Ministers expressed appreciation for know-how fund assistance, particularly its speed and flexibility, and made suggestions for future assistance.
§ Mrs. GillanI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Have not the tearing down of the Berlin wall and the disintegration of the Warsaw pact countries been some of the most significant events this century? Is it not essential to help newly emerging central European countries to have a secure democracy, and essential that we continue to support them through the excellent method of our know-how fund?
§ Mr. BaldryMy hon. Friend is right. It must be in our interests to help to pump-prime communist. Europe's transformation into free enterprise democracies. That is exactly what the know-how fund helps to achieve. The key aims of the know-how fund are financial services; privatisation; the marketing of small businesses; improving management, agriculture and health services; and promoting good government. The fund is well targeted and flexible. It offers assistance in sectors in 18 which we have expertise and experience. President Walesa recently said that the British do not say much but they do a lot. It is a much-appreciated programme.