HC Deb 17 October 1990 vol 177 cc808-15W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money(a) has been and (b) is to be allocated to each country under the know-how fund.

Mrs. Chalker

A total of £50 million has been allocated to Poland, and £25 million to Hungary both for expenditure over a period of years. The know-how fund was extended to the German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia in March and April respectively. No specific country financial limits were announced. The know-how fund for the GDR ceased on 3 October.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects funded by the know-how fund in each of the countries of eastern and central Europe since its inception.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 14 March at column236, to my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Dr. Woodcock) on 13 June at column 213 and to my hon. Friends the Members for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) and for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) on 2 July at column 417. The additional activities approved since then under the know-how fund are as follows:

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Title: Anglo-Czechoslovak Law Seminar

  • Description: Four Czechoslovak lawyers attended a seminar in London organised by the Anglo-Czechoslovak Law Association.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £2,000.

Title: Data Envelopment Analysis Programme

  • Description: The London School of Economics ran a short computer programming course based at the Ecole Polytechnique de Brno. A computer has been installed at the Polytechnique to enable them to undertake further courses.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £10,000.

Title: Prince of Wales Scholarships

  • Description: Two Czechoslovak students will be sponsored to attend courses at Atlantic College, Wales.
  • Status: The two students took-up their courses in October 1990.
  • Cost: £9,300.

Title: Workshops on Tax Structure and Public Finance

  • Description: The Institute of Fiscal Studies in cooperation with the Czechoslovak Institute of Economics and Sociology is to arrange, over a two year period, a programme of workshops to examine tax requirements and procedures resulting from the changes in Czechoslovakia. In addition there will be inward and outward visits by researchers and the provision of computer equipment.
  • Status: Started September 1990.
  • Cost: £25,000.

Title: Training for personnel of Czechoslovak TV

  • Description: VISNEWS have arranged a short training programme for key personnel from Czechoslovak TV News to enable them to see how news coverage is approached in Britain and to look at United Kingdom equipment and production techniques.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £5,000.

Title: Media Training for Czechoslovak Radio

  • Description: A group of journalists from Czechoslovak Radio undertook a two day training session with an individual consultant looking at ways of improving presentation and content.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £200.

Title: Legal Education

  • Description: The Jan Hus Foundation is to advise Czechoslovak Universities on the reform of their system of legal education.
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  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £5,000.

Title: Assistance for Privatisation

  • Description: A team of privatisation advisers from Ernst and Young, Schroders and Denton Hall will undertake a six month assignment to advise the Czechoslovak Privatisation Agency.
  • Status: Started September 1990.
  • Cost: £450,000.

Title: Broadcasting Training

  • Description: The BBC World Service is to provide a six week course for Czechoslovak broadcasters on the methods and techniques of broadcasting and journalism in a plural society.
  • Status: To start February 1991.
  • Cost: £250,000.

Title: Banking Training

  • Description: A visit to assess the training needs of the Czechoslovak banking sector.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £12,000.

Title: Banking Training

  • Description: A programme of six two week seminars for senior managers of various banks in Czechoslovakia.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £170,000.

Title: Assistance to the Ceskoslovenska Obchodnoi Banka

  • Description: Two consultants will work alongside bank staff as part of a team finalising the evaluation of an integrated software package.
  • Status: Started October 1990.
  • Cost: £14,500.

Title: Assistance to the Komercni Banka

  • Description: The placement of ten Czechoslovak bankers, selected by the Komercni Banka, with British clearing banks, mainly in their documentary credits departments in order to obtain practical, working experience of international commercial banking business.
  • Status: Started October 1990.
  • Cost: £35,000.

Title: Assistance to the Investicni Banka

  • Description: Barclays Bank to provide a three day training course to two employees of the Investicni Banka in the issue of Certificates of Deposit.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £900.

Title: Development of employment Services in Slovakia.

  • Description: A short visit by two Employment Service officials to Slovakia to ascertain needs in the employment sector.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £3,000

Title: Book Sector Study.

  • Description: A study to consider all factors relevant to educational book development which will form the basis for a more detailed book development programme to be linked to an IBRD contribution to this sector.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £44,500.

Title: Training for Employment Services Managers.

  • Description: The Employment Service are to provide a number of courses for the Czechoslovak equivalent of Jobcentre managers.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £53,000.

Title: Training and Retraining of Adults.

  • Description: Up to ten Czechoslovak officials will visit the United Kingdom for two weeks to look at adult training facilities and policy.
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  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £39,300.

Title: Development of Employment Services.

  • Description: A visit by United Kingdom Employment Service officials to Czechoslovakia to look at existing arrangements for dealing with unemployment and a return visit by officials from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to discuss with institutions in the United Kingdom the handling of unemployment issues.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £19,600.

Title: Insurance Sector

  • Description: To help establish a new insurance company.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £140,700.

Title: Management Training in the Telecommunications Sector

  • Description: The training, by British Telecom, of 10 senior executives in the Czechoslovak Federal Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £58,800.

Title: Accountancy Training

  • Description: The placement of eight Czechoslovak accountants selected by the Ministry of Finance with British accountancy firms.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £13,000.

Title: English Language Teaching In-Service Seminar

  • Description: A two-week seminar in Bratislava to prepare teachers for the introduction of new English teaching materials and methodology.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £10,500.

Title: Russian Teachers' Conversion Course

  • Description: The British Council are to organise a three-month intensive teacher training/conversion course for Czech and Slovak teachers of Russian to prepare them for English teaching duties in state primary and secondary schools.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £195,000.

Title: Advice to the Federal Minister of Economy and the Chairman of the State Bank

  • Description: The payment of airfares for up to 15 visits per year to Prague by Mr. Stanley Rudcenko, Vice President and Chief Economist at the Bankers Trust and one of an informal group of advisers to the Chairman of the State Bank and Federal Ministry of Economy.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £6,000.

Title: Secondment to the Federal Ministry of Economy

  • Description: The secondment of Dr. Drabek of the World Bank to act as a principal economic adviser to both the Ministry of Economy and the Czech Ministry of Strategic Planning.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £50,000.

Title: Secondment to the Prime Minister's Office

  • Description: The Department of Employment have seconded an official to the Czechoslovak Prime Minister's office to advise on the employment and other implications of the economic reform programme.
  • Status Underway.
  • Cost: £50,000.

Title: Management Training in the Construction Sector

  • Description: A pilot management training course for the construction sector.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £57,950.

HUNGARY

Title: Share Ownership

  • Description: Job Ownership advised the Resz-Vetel Foundation on the legislation for employee share ownership schemes.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £3,200.

Title: European Accounting Association Conference

  • Description: Ten Hungarian accountants attended the conference held in Budapest.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £2,000.

Title: Employment and Trade Union Issues

  • Description: Members of ACAS visited to advise on employment and Trade Union issues.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £2,500

Title: International Institute of Administrative Sciences Seminar

  • Description: The Royal Institute of Public Administration provided a speaker to a seminar organised by the Hungarian Institute of Administrative Sciences.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £900

Title: Support for UNIDO initiatives

  • Description: A contribution to the various industrial based projects in Hungary funded by UNIDO.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £500,000

Title: Biotechnology

  • Description: Consultants have been looking at potential productivity improvements in the fine chemicals sector.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £86,000

Title: Broadcasting Training

  • Description: The BBC will arrange for a number of broadcasters from Hungary to be trained in the United Kingdom.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £220,000

Title: Prince of Wales Scholarships

  • Description: Two Hungarian students will be sponsored to attend courses at Atlantic College, Wales.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £9,300.

Title: Franchise Booklets

  • Description: The translation and printing of two booklets on franchise procedures for distribution to interested parties through the Hungarian Franchise and Distribution Centre.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £4,000.

Title: Training for Small Businesses

  • Description: The development of training materials and the delivery of courses for small business advisers
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £99,000.

Title: Book Sector Study

  • Description: A study to consider all factors relevant to educational book development. This will form the basis of a medium term book development policy and strategy to guide donor priorities in the book sector.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £44,500.

Title: Developing Teacher Competency in Enterprise Education

  • Description: A five day workshop to introduce teachers to the British enterprise curriculum, the materials developed for pupils and teachers and the associated required teaching styles.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £5,800.

Title: Developing Small Business Counsellor and Trainer Competencies

  • Description: A stage by stage approach to developing the competencies of counsellors and trainers of small and medium sized enterprises in Hungary.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £5,800.

Title: Assistance for Employee Share Ownership Schemes

  • Description: As a follow up to their visit in March, Job Ownership Ltd are to examine in more detail the feasibility of introducing employee share ownership into up to five Hungarian Businesses which are currently state owned.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £80,000.

Title: Management Training in the Telecommunications Sector

  • Description: The training of 12 senior executives in the Hungarian Telecommunications Company in management skills essential for operating in a free market environment.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £72,000.

Title: Seminar on the Agri-Food Sector

  • Description: The seminar is designed to stimulate business links between British and Hungarian partners in the agri-food processing sector.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £7,600.

Title: Kecskemet Business Support Centre

  • Description: A feasibility study to look at the potential to establish a support centre in Kecskemet to stimulate the development of the small business sector.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £10,500.

Title: Seminar on Commercial Law

  • Description: A three-day seminar on commercial law held in Budapest by the British-Hungarian Legal Association in conjunction with the Association of Hungarian lawyers.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £32,000.

Title: Advice to the Hungarian Parliament

  • Description: A visit by the Clerk of the Overseas Office of the House of Commons to give the officials of the Hungarian Parliament an overview of British methods of parliamentary organisation.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £3,000.

GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

Title: Scholarships

  • Description: A programme of 28 scholarships.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £261,000.

Title: Summer School

  • Description: 50 places for GDR English specialists at a British Council managed summer school.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £69,000.

Title: ELT

  • Description: Programme of four institutional links.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £75,000.

Title: Media training

  • Description: Attachment of two producers from East German radio to the world service.
  • Status: Completed.
  • Cost: £35,000.

POLAND

Title: Management Training sector mission

  • Description: Project identification.
  • Status: Completed May 1990.
  • Cost: £39,000.

Title: UNIDO projects

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  • Description: Trust Fund agreement to use UNIDO as management agent for industrial sector.
  • Status: Commenced April 1990.

Title: Book Presentation Programme

  • Description: Provision of essential books to libraries/educational institutes—administered by the British Council.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £100,000 a year.

Title: Solidarity Economic Foundation

  • Description: Equipment for Gdansk centre.
  • Status: Completed March 1990.
  • Cost: £20,000.

Title: English Management Advisory Service

  • Description: Pilot programme to increase us33seage and quality of English by Polish Businessmen, involving establishment of a resource centre in Warsaw and a team of peripatetic trainers/advisers to work with regionally based Polish institutes and trainers.
  • Status: Started September 1990.
  • Cost: £530,000.

Title: Management Training

  • Description: Contribution towards one year training programme in all aspects of International freight forwarding for two Polish trainees.
  • Status: Started July 1990.
  • Cost: £20,000.

Title: Polish Access to English

  • Description: Assistance to Ministry of Education to achieve a sustainable English Language teacher training programme through provision of:—planning support for development of strategy; EL teacher training; curriculum development; materials/equipment for new colleges.
  • Status: Started August 1990.
  • Cost: £454,000.

Title: Assets and Liabilities Restructuring

  • Description: One year secondment of member of Barclays Bank to assist Minister of Finance in analysis and restructuring of State banks.
  • Status: Started August 1990.
  • Cost: £45,000.

Title: Ministry of Industry—Industrial Restructuring Fund

  • Description: Six month attachment of United Kingdom expert to upgrade the structure and management of the Industrial Restructuring Fund.
  • Status: Started July 1990.
  • Cost: £85,000.

Title: Stock Exchange Training

  • Description: Six month attachment for five Polish trainees with a firm of traders on the London Stock Exchange.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £105,000.

Title: Ealing Language Courses

  • Description: Two six week English Language training courses for Polish Vice-Ministers.
  • Status: Started July 1990.
  • Cost: £45,000.

Title: Accountancy Training Project

  • Description: Intensive five year programme of accountancy training in Poland.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £4,093,000.

Title: Police Training

  • Description: Project identification visit.
  • Status: Completed June 1990.
  • Cost: £4,000.

Title: Polish Publishing House

  • Description: Four week secondment of United Kingdom expert to State Scientific Publishers (PWN) to advise on restructuring.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £15,000.

Title: Coal Industry Training

  • Description: Additional training in colliery management techniques—two follow-up courses in United Kingdom; six courses in Poland.
  • Status: Underway.
  • Cost: £186,000.

Title: Insurance Consultancy

  • Description: Restructuring of Polish State Insurance Company.
  • Status: To be implemented.
  • Cost: £300,000.

Title: Assistance to Krakow Veterinary Hygiene Institute

  • Description: Visit to United Kingdom institutions by 12 Veterinary Officers.
  • Status: Due to start October 1990.
  • Cost: £40,000.

Title: Overlay cellular telephone network

  • Description: Provision of consultancy advice on tender evaluation procedures.
  • Status: Started September 1990.
  • Cost: £42,000.

Title: Training of Polish Diplomats

  • Description: Training for 6 weeks of 10 students at the Diplomacy Acadamy of London (Polytechnic of Central London).
  • Status: Started October 1990.
  • Cost: £50,000.