§ 5. Mr. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)What assistance she will provide to the five central European, first-wave, EU applicant states in the period between the reduction of the know-how funding provided to them and their accession to full membership of the EU. [73833]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. George Foulkes)We shall continue to provide substantial support for the states that are seeking membership of the EU, principally through multilateral channels, particularly the European Union. From 2000, EU funds to support accession will total more than £2 billion per year. The British share of that will be approximately £300 million.
§ Mr. MackinlayI welcome what my hon. Friend says, but my question concerned the know-how fund, which is moving eastward. I urge my hon. Friend to reconsider the position because the know-how fund is a gilt-edged investment for the UK in terms of good will. In addition, the UK can make a unique contribution to those countries seeking to achieve the acquis in time for their accession to the EU, but only through the know-how fund.
§ Mr. FoulkesI suppose that it would have been a bit optimistic of me to think that my hon. Friend would follow the example of my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane).
We recognise that we can provide a great deal though the know-how fund, but substantial sums can and should be provided from the EU, through PHARE—Poland and 353 Hungary Aid for Reconstruction of the Economy—the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European investment bank. From next year, an extra £1 billion will be available through the pre-accession instrument for structural policy and the special accession programme for agricultural and rural development— typical EU titles, I am afraid. Therefore, substantial sums are going. I hope that my hon. Friend will recognise, further to earlier questions, that it is vital to achieve the targets for poverty eradication by 2015, and we must not take our eye off that important target.
§ Mrs. Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham)The Minister knows that there is no danger of my following the example of the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane).
The Minister will agree that it is becoming apparent that the successful accession of the central European applicant states requires even more assistance than was at first envisaged. The average wage in the United Kingdom is seven to 10 times more than that in the five first-wave countries, so does he agree that there is potential for vast economic migration? Despite his announcement of £2 billion-worth of substantial support, what specific proposals has he to reduce that gap and the poverty levels in the five former communist countries? We must ensure the success of enlargement, which hon. Members in all parts of the House want to achieve.
§ Mr. FoulkesThe hon. Lady would be the first to recognise that Britain has made an acknowledged contribution to supporting transition. It is remarkable that, partly with our help, five countries that were communist only a decade ago are negotiating to join the European Union. That is a tremendous step forward. Our policy is to support those countries, particularly those experiencing the social effects of transition, which can be very difficult, especially in relation to unemployment. We are moving our support in that direction to ensure that they are ready to become full members of the European Union.