§ Lord Tebbitasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions in each of the last five years the United Kingdom has brought to the notice of the Commission or the European Court of Justice the evasion of penalties imposed on governmental or non-governmental organisations of the member states under the law of the European Community, and with what results.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyIt is primarily for the European Commission to ensure that the penalties which it imposes are not evaded, and it has procedures in place to achieve this. However, if the UK had evidence of evasion, the Government would bring this to the Commission's attention.
The Court of Auditors recently examined the collection of penalties and fines and included its observations in its report on the discharge of the 1992 EC Budget. The Council's Recommendation to the European Parliament on the 1992 Budget expected the Commission to operate in the area of fines and penalties as swiftly as possible. The UK fully endorses the need for the Commission to ensure that the procedures which it has in place to prevent evasion are used effectively.