Examination of Witnesses (Questions 40-49)
Ms Kitty Ussher, Mr Jean-Christophe Gray and Mr Paul
Bunsell
11 JUNE 2008
Q40 Lord Woolmer of Leeds: What timescale
do you anticipate for when that might be forthcoming?
Kitty Ussher: Extremely soon we will be deciding
how best to respond. That is the only answer I can give you at
the moment. Obviously, before that decision is made, I cannot
give you the answer.
Q41 Lord Woolmer of Leeds: So the
Commission had a lot of views expressed to it, some informally
by us but not yet formally by us?
Kitty Ussher: Extremely strong informal views,
but no actual document published at this point. The decision is
pending urgently.
Q42 Chairman: But you know there
is a time limit?
Kitty Ussher: I am happy to let you know as
soon as we decide.
Q43 Chairman: It has got to be before
the recess, has it not?
Kitty Ussher: One would have thought so, yes,
depending on the form that it takes. You will certainly hear from
us before the recess.
Q44 Lord Trimble: I understand that
the current Commission has set itself a target of a positive statement
of assurance on the Budget by the end of its time in office. Do
you think they are going to achieve that?
Kitty Ussher: That is a matter for them. I certainly
hope that they do, yes.
Lord Watson of Richmond: It will be a first!
Q45 Lord Trimble: More specifically
then, what progress has been made towards the publication of an
audit of funds managed by the UK?
Kitty Ussher: This is our own process. Yes,
as you know, we voluntarily decided to have a consolidated statement
of EU funds spent in the UK and to have that audited by the NAO.
There has been a slight slippage of that, but that is simply due
to the fact that the NAO is undertaking a complex task for the
first time, but we do expect that to be published very soon.
Q46 Lord Trimble: Do you think any
other Member countries will follow our example?
Kitty Ussher: We always aim to lead in Europe,
so I hope so. We have achieved shifting the centre of gravity
on this issue. I do not have specific initiatives in other Member
States.
Mr Gray: The Netherlands and Denmark have already
produced these in previous years. A number of other Member States
are very interested in doing so and there are a few others who
are less -
Q47 Lord Trimble: This is going to
produce an interesting situation. If the hitherto like-minded
states, the states we mentioned earlier, all do this, then this
is going to leave certain other countries looking quite exposed
if they do not follow suit?
Kitty Ussher: That is precisely the point!
Q48 Chairman: Are the Irish going
to attempt to follow our lead in this matter?
Mr Gray: Not that I know of.
Kitty Ussher: Unless Lord Haskins knows differently!
Lord Watson of Richmond: There is a biblical
text which suggests itself about there being more rejoicing in
Heaven!
Q49 Chairman: It remains for us to
thank you, Minister, very much for coming and being so helpful
in your replies, and indeed to thank all your Treasury colleagues
for their help. I hope we have not unduly delayed you.
Kitty Ussher: I hope we have not unduly delayed
you as well. Thank you very much. It is a pleasure. I will follow
up in writing on those points.
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