Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what date they were informed by the European Commission of their suspicions that British beef had been exported to Europe, and on what date the European Commission made their suspicions public.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)The European Commission formally notified the Government of its concern over alleged illegal exports of UK beef on 2 July, the same day that it made its suspicions public. Government officials have been involved in investigations into the allegations, in co-operation with officials from some other member states and the Commission's anti-fraud unit, since May.