§ 62. Mr. Tim Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report of the European Community Court of Auditors.
§ Mr. RifkindThe Court of Auditors' annual report for 1982 was published in the Official Journal on 31 December. Copies of the report, together with an explanatory memorandum by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary, were deposited in the Library on 19 January.
§ Mr. SmithHas my hon. Friend had a chance to look at the Court of Auditors' comments about the previous year's recommendations and the failure of the Community to follow them up? Does my hon. Friend agree that there is not much point in producing a report of this size if the recommendations are not followed up? Will my hon. Friend try to ensure that proper systems of financial control are introduced into Community institutions?
§ Mr. RifkindI agree with my hon. Friend that many of the recommendations of the Court of Auditors deserve strong support from the Council of Ministers and the Community as a whole. Responsibility for the report lies with the European Parliament. It is for it to decide whether sufficient action has been taken to justify discharge of the accounts.
§ Mr. SpearingFollowing the point made by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith), will the Minister answer a question which he did not answer in the debate on Monday night? If he is not satisfied with the Commission's response to the Court of Auditors. report, will he ensure that those matters are discussed properly at the relevant Council of Ministers meeting when the discharge certificate is considered?
§ Mr. RifkindI emphasise that it is not the Council of Ministers that takes the decision on discharge. That is the responsibility of the European Parliament. However, if there are matters recommended by the Court of Auditors that we think require further consideration, we shall proceed along the way that we think is most likely to produce the desired result.