HC Deb 02 July 1990 vol 175 cc417-8W
Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways were small companies being encouraged to be involved in the range of activities under the know-how fund for Poland and Hungary; what procedures a small company needs to go through to be involved in this project; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

We have already had a large number of applications from small firms inquiring about opportunities under the know-how fund. Many of the applications are in the field of management training and we will soon be evaluating these proposals in the light of various managment sector missions that we have sent to eastern Europe.

There are also opportunities for small and medium firms to benefit from two recently inaugurated schemes, one for assistance with pre-feasibility investment schemes, the other for assistance with joint venture training.

Companies should apply to the joint assessment unit in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office if their interest lies in any of these areas.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on activities to date of the know-how fund.

Sir Thomas Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many separate projects have been identified under the know-how fund for eastern Europe.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 14 March at column236, and to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Dr. Woodcock) on 13 June at column 213. Seventy-nine projects were listed in those two replies. Since then we have agreed the following projects:

Czechoslovakia

  • A conference on privatisation to be held in Prague in September—26,000.
  • Contribution to the United Kingdom transport costs of Czechoslovak agricultural students undertaking practical attachments with British farmers—£1,000.
  • Symposium on the construction sector to be held in Prague in July—£5,000.

Hungary

  • Co-operation between the Open University and the Hungarian Open Business School—£56,000.
  • Visit of both Hungarian State Insurance Supervisors to the United Kingdom—£4,000.