§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the current state of disciplinary proceedings against Commission officials implicated in alleged fraud; how many are involved; at what levels; and what is the timescale for concluding such proceedings. [92865]
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§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin) on 20 January 1999,Official Report, column 505 in which she undertook to write to the hon. Member. She did so on 30 April 1999 and a copy of the letter was placed in the Libraries of the House.
The European Commission has been asked to provide an update on progress made since then and when proceedings are expected to conclude. I have asked my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to write to the hon. Member when this information is received.