§ Andrew SelousTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purpose money was allocated to Luton borough council by the European Union, which is now to be spent in Pakistan; and what criteria his Department will use to authorise the spending of this money in this way. [62892]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe EC-funded 'Asia Urbs' programme is available for local borough councils to spend on urban development projects in Asia. We understand that Luton borough council is currently considering bidding for £300,000 to spend in 2002–03 on a water treatment engineering project in Peshawar, Pakistan, and that it proposes to fund £50,000 of technical assistance from its own resources. If Luton borough council decides to proceed with its bid and is successful, it will be for the European Commission and Luton borough council to agree upon the detail of the project.