§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has of the level and cost of fraud under the common agricultural policy for each of the last three years in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the rest of the Community.
§ Mr. Donald Thompson[holding answer 20 January 1988]: Member states are obliged to report quarterly to the Commission on irregularitiees in claims, even where the money may be recovered. The number and value of irregularities reported in the last three years for which figures are available were:
It is not possible by definition to state the level of undetected fraud. The Government are concerned to minimise fraudulent claims under the CAP and welcome the Commission's recent initiative to devote more resources to this important area.