HC Deb 26 April 1993 vol 223 cc284-5W
Mr. Marlow

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the amounts of the five main EC agricultural spending programmes for the last year in which figures are available for each EC country, with the best available estimate in each case of the amount that has been fraudulently misapplied.

Mr. Curry

It is not possible to estimate the extent of fraud in the common agricultural policy since, by definition, undetected fraud cannot be measured. However, all member states report cases of EAGGF guarantee-funded irregularity—the definition of which goes wider than fraud). Details of the number and value of cases reported in 1991 are given in annex 20 of the 21st financial report on the European agricultural guidance and guarantee Fund—1991—guarantee section and food aid accounts clearance, a copy of which was placed in the Library. Annex 2 of this report also contains details of expenditure charged by sector and by member state against the 1991 EC Budget.

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