Senate adopts 2002 budget

The Senate concluded work on this year's budget, adopting several minor amendments that provide, among others, for increasing financial support for the subway construction in Warsaw by PLN 100mn (USD 24.4mn), allocating additional PLN 30mn for developing Internet access in schools, and earmarking additional PLN 25mn for health care services. The Senate adopted the draft with 75 Senators voting for, 13 against and 4 abstaining from the vote. The draft is now to return to the Sejm, which is expected to deal with it next week. After the final vote in the Sejm, the budget will be sent to the President for signing. kp,bb BANKING AND FINANCE