§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the shortcomings in the European Union External Aid Programme have only recently been discovered; why the Audit Office was not involved sooner; and whether they will seek to ensure that the sum pledged for clearing the Danube at Novi Sad and restoring full navigation is promptly and efficiently spent. [HL2501]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Government have long been aware that the European Community's External Aid Programme is not living up to its potential. We produced a strategy in December 1998 for improving its effectiveness and efficiency and are currently taking this strategy forward in co-operation with the European Commission.
Audit for EC development programmes is the responsibility of the European Court of Auditors, who produce a report in November each year. The National Audit Office scrutinises this report for Parliament in spring the following year.
Ensuring that EC pledges are promptly and efficiently spent falls outside the remit of the National Audit Office. However, we fully support Commissioner Patten's recommendation that efforts should be made to speed up implementation of this proposal.