HC Deb 18 May 1994 vol 243 c480W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is available from the European Commission for anti-fraud work; and how much money the British Government have claimed in cash and percentage terms for each of the past five years.

Sir John Cope

In addition to the administrative resources within the Commission, the budgetary authority allocated 139.14 million ecu, £105 million, in the 1994 budget to programmes to fight fraud. This compares with an outturn of 115.285 million ecu, £87 million, in 1993, 67.245 million ecu, £51 million, in 1992, 69.626 million, ecu, £53 million, in 1991 and 50.842 million ecu, £38 million, in 1990. The budget for anti-fraud programmes includes both funds spent directly by the Commission and funds available to member states to co-finance new controls and anti-fraud mechanisms.

United Kingdom receipts from the EC budget for anti-fraud programmes are included with other departmental receipts. This information is not held centrally. However, the United Kingdom does take advantage of Community financing. For example, following the introduction of the integrated control and administration system, some £2.9 million was claimed in 1993 to meet part of the cost of introducing a computer database to record details of areas and livestock numbers subject to support. An application for a further £4.5 million has been made for 1994. The United Kingdom has also taken advantage of the provision for computer systems in the CAP export refund area, where Customs have claimed £110,768 and £74,250 in 1992 and 1993 respectively. Customs have also applied for £248,993 for the same purpose in 1994.