§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the powers available to the ministerial Councils of the EEC to prevent the substantial frauds on export rebates permitted by certain member states as detailed in the Court of Auditors report on 13 December.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Council is currently considering a proposed regulation which would require member states to carry out a minimum. level of physical inspections of exports attracting Community refunds. The Court of Auditors has recommended that this measure should be supplemented, for example by targeting inspections on consignments which are of higher value or risk. The Government are very concerned to reduce fraud in the Community and I will be pressing the Council to reach an early decision on this proposal, taking full account of the court's views.