§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the European Economic Community Council of Ministers has taken when the European Assembly has put commitment appropriations into the European Economic Community Budget, although the money for them is not available.
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§ Mr. Ian StewartUnder article 203 of the treaty of Rome the European Parliament has the final say on non-obligatory expenditure. The build-up of commitments relating to non-obligatory expenditure has been criticised by the Court of Auditors. The United Kingdom is seeking to improve the Community's financial control and, with other member states, will look for improvements to meet the Court's criticisms during the 1986 budgetary procedures. The Council of Economic and Finance Ministers, which I attended on 11 March, agreed that Permanent Representatives of member states should examine these issues further and report back to the Council.