§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to offer assistance in the form of environmental clean-up technology developed in the United Kingdom to the German Democratic Republic.
§ Mr. ForthOn 22 January, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that a know-how fund would be set up for eastern Europe. This would embrace our existing commitments to Poland and Hungary, and make available help for other east European countries once they are firmly committed to reform. It is too early to indicate the distribution of such funds by country or sector.
United Kingdom manufacturers of equipment for environmental improvement are being encouraged to develop links with prospective users in eastern Europe, including the German Democratic Republic, through a number of mechanisms. In particular, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, to be held in Bonn between 19 March and 11 April 1990, will include opportunities for business men from eastern and western European nations to identify requirements for environmental protection equipment. United Kingdom associations in the environmental field have been asked to inform their members of this event.