§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 3 April,Official Report, column 360, if he will make a statement on the further action by the European Commission to incur expenditure without legal authority. [37689]
§ Mr. LilleyMy Department has become aware that the European Commission has invited further applications for funding for projects seeking to combat social exclusion. The substantive issue—of expenditure without the necessary legal authority is identical to the case that the Government took to the European Court of Justice in April. We have therefore this week lodged an application in the European Court of Justice challenging the legal basis of the Commission's proposed further expenditure.