§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what moneys are being made available by the United Kingdom and channelled through the PHARE—Poland and Hungary Assistance for Economic Restructuring—programme for 291W the purpose of sending specialist advisers selected and approved by the west to provide information, advice and technical assistance to eastern European countries;
(2) how much money is being devoted under the PHARE programme for direct use in the creation of an infrastructure to support the development of democracy.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe EC's PHARE programme committed some 500 mecu in 1990 and is worth 850 mecu in 1991 and 1 billion ecu in 1992. Our contribution is some 18 per cent., or approximately £63 million, £107 million and £126 million respectively. The PHARE programme promotes economic restructuring in the countries of central and eastern Europe thereby underpinning the newly created democracies. The programme includes the financing of western specialist advisers in these countries, and training in member states.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions the United Kingdom Government impose on the use of moneys under the PHARE programme in terms of the type of end use to which resources can be applied or as to locations from which services can be brought in.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe operation of the PHARE programme is governed by European Community regulations. The British Government are represented on a management committee which oversees disbursements and considers the Commission's proposals. The regulations stipulate that only EC member states and the countries of central and eastern Europe may tender to provide services for projects wholly financed by the PHARE programme.