§ Lord Bethellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they have taken, in the light of the letter dated 23 June 1998 from Mrs. Anita Gradin, Member of the European Commission, to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, indicating that "serious irregularities have occurred in the London Borough of Camden and certain other London boroughs in relation to moneys from the European Social Fund from 1989 onwards", and in particular whether the papers on the question have been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. [HL882]
§ Baroness BlackstoneA copy of the report was sent to the Audit Commission and the Metropolitan Police Fraud Squad. The case is still under consideration by the police and has not been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.
The report also requested that a number of London boroughs and the Migrant Training Company repay £550,000 of European Social Fund money. The boroughs have now repaid the amount due and the Migrant Training Company have agreed a repayment schedule with the department.