EU Financial Management

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has raised that point with my ministerial colleagues in the relevant Department, but if he wants me to look at the situation after the debate I shall be happy to do so and write to him. The ECA considers that IACS, where it is properly applied, is effective in limiting the risk of irregularities to an acceptable level. In addition, the 2004 report concludes that pre-accession aid also merits a positive statement of assurance. Taking the large share of agriculture spending, and all pre-accession aid and administration costs, about 35 per cent. of the 2004 budget has been assured by the ECA. As I am sure Members will be at pains to point out, that still leaves a long way to go, but it is an improvement over previous years.