§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the extent of fraud in the common agricultural policy and its monetary value.
§ Mr. CurryIt is not possible to estimate the extent of fraud in the common agricultural policy since, by definition, undetected fraud cannot be measured. In 1988, 482 cases of irregularity (the definition of which goes wider than fraud) were reported by member states with a value of 121 mecu (£82 million). These cases represent about 0.4 per cent. of CAP expenditure in that year.