§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his overall strategic approach to aid and assistance to the reforming east European and central European economies.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe main strategic aid is to help in the establishment of a plural democracy and to facilitate the transition from a centrally planned to a free market economy. The know-how fund is our main bilateral instrument for achieving these overall aims. Assistance under the know-how fund is concentrated on help in the financial sector, particularly privatisation, banking arid accountancy; in the employment sector; in the development of small businesses; in management training; and in assistance to parliamentarians, the media and legal structures.