Lord Bethelasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they have taken as the result of alleged abuses and fraud identified in a letter from European Community Commissioner Gradin to Mr David Blunkett; and in particular, what plans the Metropolitan Police and the District Auditor of Camden have to investigate these allegations. [HL4119]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)The London Borough of Camden has received the report of an independent inquiry into the allegations referred to in the letter from Commissioner Gradin. The Metropolitan Police, the District Auditor and the Department for Education and Employment cooperated fully in the inquiry. The inquiry found no evidence to justify the allegations of criminal activity made by UCLAF, the European Commission's fraud 103WA unit. The inquiry team found that Camden's controls over ESF applications had been unsatisfactory but that the management, administration and financial control of the council have since been improved and reformed.