§ 18. Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what priority her Department gives to countering fraud in its aid programmes. [57819]
§ Clare ShortMy Department gives a high priority to preventing fraud. To ensure regularity, propriety and value for money in the expenditure of aid funds, Departmental staff and aid recipients are required to follow detailed procedures and to keep comprehensive financial records. Our control systems are under constant review by our internal auditors and are subject to examination by the National Audit Office.
Full details of the Department for International Development's (DFID) procedures for authorising and accounting for expenditure are set out in the Department's Office Instructions, copies of which are in the Library of the House.