§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which body within the Community has the responsibility for pursuing the reports made by the Court of Auditors; and what action was taken on the report by the Court that 19 million lire of Community funds were spent on financing the delivery of non-existent fruit juice to NATO in Palermo by the Mafia-connected firm.
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§ Mr. BrookeThe court's annual report is discussed chapter by chapter by the Council's budget committee, which formulates a draft council recommendation for discharge of the accounts to which the report relates. Under article 206(b) of the treaty of Rome, the European Parliament has the final responsibility for deciding whether or not to grant the discharge.
I am looking into the specific issue referred to in the second part of the question and will let my hon. Friend have an answer as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the report of the Court of Auditors published on 13 December.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Government will consider the court's report in detail, preparatory to a chapter by chapter examination of its findings by the Council's budget committee. In line with established practice, the House of Commons will have an opportunity to debate the report before it is considered by the Economic and Finance Council.