In Brief: GINB says bad debts are up; UOKiK fines PKP; Szczecin

An analysis by the Banking Supervision General Inspectorate (GINB) shows that the proportion of bad debts on loans granted to non-financial entities had increased by the end of the first quarter of 2002 to 20% against 18.3% at the end of 2001. (Prawo I Gospodarka, p. 3); ... The Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has imposed a penalty of more than zl. 860 thousand on the four PKP companies. The penalty was received for the railways' charging excessive handling fees for reimbursing fares to passengers entitled to free or reduced-fare travel. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 20) ... New loans along with interest guaranteed by the State Treasury up to the amount of zl. 326.7 billion are to be granted to the New Szczecin Shipyard (Stocznia Szczecinska Nowa). The government has authorized Finance Minister Kolodko to sign contracts for guarantees with PKO BP. (Prawo I Gospodarka, p. 3) K.K.