§ Lord Hoosonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate has been made by them of fraud on various funds applied to this country by the European Community, whether agricultural, structural, regional or training funds, during the past three financial years and how much of these funds lost to fraud has been recovered.
§ Lord HenleyThere is no reliable estimate of fraud against the European Community budget. However, the Commission produces an annual report on the fight against fraud which contains details of irregularities notified by member states. In this context irregularities includes all overpayments whether as a result of error, negligence or deliberate fraud. The reports for the past three years show that the number of irregularities and amounts recovered reported by the UK were:
Diego Garcia continues to play an important role. The facility has been used in support of allied operations in the Gulf and the United Nations intervention in Somalia. There is a resident detachment of British Forces personnel, and British officials visit the island at regular intervals.
Conditions for the use by the US authorities of Diego Garcia are governed by the above-mentioned Exchanges of Notes. Both Britain and the United States are bound to observe international law and mandatory resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
The US "afloat pre-positioned" ships anchored at Diego Garcia contain military equipment and supplies available for use in case of regional emergencies.