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Fraud: EU Committee Report

My Lords, this has been a fascinating debate, on a subject of great intrinsic interest. It is not often that I find myself—I hope—illuminating an issue that has cost this country close to £20 billion over the past eight years. That is money which, had it been available to the Exchequer, could have funded many public goods. I am grateful to everyone who has spoken in the debate. Our report was greatly assisted by the presence of one of the architects of the 1992 agreement in the person of the noble Lord, Lord Kerr. It must be unusual to hear such clear and well reasoned arguments for why a change of heart on the part of the Government of the United Kingdom is now both necessary and urgently needed. I am a little disappointed by the Government’s response. Having accepted that there is a systemic problem, the Government surely should be prepared, having willed the end, to will the means to resolve the problem. I hope that some urgent efforts will be made to find a solution. I also offer by way of warning the comment that my committee will do another report fairly shortly when we see what progress is being made. On Question, Motion agreed to.