§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requests have been made by the Court of Auditors of the European Community to the European Commission to be consulted concerning(a) the drafting of any proposed regulation concerned with the expenditure and (b) amendments to current regulations in directives aimed at the prevention of irregularities and fraud. [29986]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAny correspondence between the Court and the Commission is a matter for the institutions in question.
The European Court of Auditors submitted in May 1995 a report to the "Reflection Group" containing their proposals for treaty changes in the context of the intergovernmental conference. The general position is that in the case of legislative proposals under article 209 the Commission is required to consult the court; in other cases consultation is optional. In its report, the court considered that (a) article 209 should be used as the legal basis for all legislation intended to lay down new financial regulations or to derogate from the financial regulation; and (b) that as regards optional consultation the court could be systematically consulted on any draft legislation which, on bases other than article 209, affects the Community's budgetary and financial mechanisms, especially regarding control. The intergovernmental conference is considering the court's comments.
§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans Her Majesty's Government have to avail themselves of each opportunity for officials or their agencies to conduct joint inquiries and activities with officials of the Commission of the European Communities under powers to be provided under the 119W proposed regulation covering on-the-spot inspections and checks relating to any use of funds provided by the Community. [29987]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThis will be an operational matter for the authorities in question. However, my expectation is that UK officials would normally exercise their right to accompany Commission officials.