§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the total United Kingdom overseas aid budget is now administered by the European Union; whether they are satisfied that it is 136WA efficiently administered without fraud; and whether the aid is being directed to Third World countries in greatest need of it and is not being targeted by the European Union for political reasons. [HL2295]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyCurrently 30 per cent. of the United Kingdom's aid budget is administered by the European Union. Fraud against the EC budget is something which the Government take very seriously and specific decisions on fighting fraud are discussed at the ECOFIN Council. Last December the Department for International Development published an 18-point strategy to improve EC development spending, which is both skewed against the poorest countries and often of poor quality. This strategy will be discussed at the EU Development Council on 21 May.