§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what systems are in place for monitoring how her Department's budget is spent by(a) the EU and (b) other recipient organisations. [56224]
§ Clare Short[holding answer 26 October 1998]: My Department monitors closely spending by the European Commission and other multilateral organisations through regular consultations, participation in meetings of the relevant governing bodies, executive boards and management committees. We maintain an oversight of their financial management systems and their annual audited accounts. All organisations which receive Department for International Development (DFID) funds are required to provide regular certified statements of expenditure, and reports by external auditors.
Full details of DFID's monitoring and accounting procedures are set out in the Department's Office Instructions, copies of which are in the Library of the House of Commons. The European Commission and the Court of Auditors issue a variety of reports on EC development assistance, which the Government submit for Parliamentary scrutiny.