Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Earl of Liverpool (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 30 June 2005.

EU: Financial Management

Question: My Lords, can the Minister give the House the actual figure that the Court of Auditors estimates is lost to fraud each year?

Answer: My Lords, I do not have that figure to hand. My understanding of what happens is that the Commission produces a report each year which contains figures that identify the extent of fraud, but I stress that the reference to irregularities in a Statement of Assurance do not equate with fraud in every case. In fact, I think that it has been estimated that something like 20 per cent of identified irregularities might have an element of fraud attached to them. That remains a huge task which needs to be addressed fully and effectively.

Secondary information