§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money within the EU budget was spent on tackling fraud in each of the last 10 years. [66123]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 18 January 1999]: Total spending to combat fraud and financial mismanagement is not separately identified in the EC budget. For example, administration spending is classified according to its type (pay, stationery etc.) rather than aim (anti-fraud etc.). However, payment appropriations for a number of budget lines that relate primarily to the fight against fraud and financial mismanagement are given in the following table. In addition, the entire budget of the European Court of Auditors—amounting to some 66 million euros in 1999—is directed at cutting out fraud and financial mismanagement in the EC budget.
589WIt should be noted that the Community's effectiveness in tackling fraud is not just about the amounts that are spent on anti-fraud measures in the EC budget. Expenditure in the EC budget on such measures should
Payment appropriations 1990–99 Budget Heading 19901 19911 19921 19931 19941 19951 19961 19971 19981 19992 item Outturn Outturn Outturn Outturn Outturn Outturn Outturn Outturn Budgeted Budgeted A-2554 Conferences, congresses and meetings in connection with the activities of the associations of European Lawyers for the protection of the financial interests of the Community — — 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 A-3530 Unit to co-ordinate action against fraud 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 A-3531 Controls, studies, analyses in connection with the fight against fraud 3.1 3.9 1.1 2.6 3.1 2.9 3.4 3.7 2.8 2.8 A-3532 Combating fraud in the textile sector — 0.0 — 0.1 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 A-354 Tax harmonisation and computerised customs network for fraud prevention 1.4 1.2 0.9 — — — — — — — A-355 European documentation, co-ordination and study network to control of cross border crime and fraud — — 0.1 0.2 0.4 — 0.1 — — — A-4530 Expenditure in support of the Unit to co-ordinate action against fraud — 0.1 0.2 0.0 — — — — — — A-4531 Expenditure in support of controls, studies, analyses in connection with the fight against fraud — 0.7 3.2 2.1 — — — — — — A-454 Tax harmonisation and computerised customs network for fraud prevention — 1.0 3.1 1.4 — — — — — — B1–360 Measures to combat fraud affecting the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund—Guarantee Section — 8.7 8.3 54.4 66.3 51.3 24.7 36.8 45.0 38.0 B-3820 Measures to control and combat fraud 16.4 — — — — — — — — — B-3821 Other forms of inspection in agriculture 2.9 — — — — — — — — — B2–121 Measures to combat fraud affecting the European Regional Development Fund — — — — — 0.0 — — — — B2–13I Measures to combat fraud affecting the European Social Fund — — — — — 0.1 — — — — B2–150 Action against fraud in the field of structural policy — — — — — — 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8 B2–301 Measures to combat fraud affecting the Cohesion Fund — — — — — 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 B2–511(0) Inspection in agriculture — 22.8 27.2 17.7 11.1 8.1 12.8 11.5 20.0 15.0 B2–5111 Other forms of inspection in agriculture — 3.2 3.1 0.5 — — — — — — B2–519 Campaign against fraud in agriculture — — — — 0.2 0.8 — — — — B5–910 General measures to combat fraud — — — — — — 3.4 4.6 4.4 4.4 B6–910 Actions to combat fraud in the area of research — — — — — 0.0 0.0 — — — B7–650 Measures to combat fraud in the co-operation sector — — — — — — 0.0 — — — B8–2510 Inspection in agriculture — 0.1 0.3 — — — — — — — B8–2511 Other forms of inspection in agriculture — 2.1 4.1 — — — — — — — Total 24.0 43.8 51.7 79.5 81.9 64.4 45.9 58.0 74.3 62.2 1 Figures given to nearest 0.1 million ecus. 2 Figures given to nearest 0.1 million euros.