§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many officials are involved in IACS map checks; how many map checks have been carried out; and what was the financial saving as a result of the mistakes found. [73293]
§ Mr. RookerUnder the programme carried out by the Department between 1994–1998, IACS map checks were undertaken in respect of 2,174,843 field areas and numbers to establish the accuracy of the details included in Area Aid Applications and entered on the IACS database. The number of officials involved in the programme and the total value of reductions to claims were not recorded centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the object of the programme was to protect Community expenditure on the schemes governed by IACS not only for the period up to 1998 but also, by verifying the information recorded on the IACS database, which is used to validate claims in subsequent years.