§ Mr. Alasdair MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the annual running costs for each year since their establishment, of each of the European programme directives or partnerships for the disbursement of European structural funds; and by what means such costs are scrutinised. [56252]
§ Mr. MacdonaldThe information set out in the table is based on claims received:
Expenditure (£) Calendar year Strathclyde European partnership Eastern Scotland European partnership Dumfries and Galloway European partnership Highlands and Islands partnership programme 1993 365,217 — — — 1994 325,242 10,000 91,400 259,630 1995 400,580 398,000 155,000 371,000 1996 530,630 428,000 171,000 384,900 1997 951,840 718,353 190,500 524,000 Programme Executive budgets are approved by the respective Boards or Joint Management Boards drawn from, and with responsibility, to the various programme partnerships for the operation of the Programme Executives. The partnerships meet 50 per cent. of the costs.
Programme Executive funding is also supported at 50 per cent. from technical assistance from the European Structural Funds. The technical assistance application, and by extension, the overall budget is considered and approved by the Programme Monitoring Committee.
Expenditure and claims for technical assistance are scrutinised in accordance with recognised payment and audit procedures as laid down by the Scottish Office, the National Audit Office and the European Commission.