§ Q115. Mr. PageTo ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding United Kingdom relations with Poland.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI have been asked to reply.
Our relations with Poland are excellent. We wish the new, Solidarity-led Government every success. It has made a courageous start. The Prime Minister had talks with General Jaruzelski and with Professor Geremek of Solidarity in June, and very much looks forward to meeting Mr. Walesa here soon. We are committed to a major international effort to support Polish economic reform and recovery based on an IMF programme. Bilaterally we are giving £25 million over five years to provide training in the political and economic skills Poland needs. For example, last week a group of Polish members of parliament was here to study how our own parliamentary system works. The European Community is sending food to Poland. 200 million ecus from next year's budget will concentrate on projects for agriculture, the environment and vocational training.