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House
of Commons responds to 'Whistleblower' Robert
Dougal Watt
Response of Public Accounts Committee
11 February 2003
Dear Mr Watt
Further to my e-mail dated 7 February, I am now
able to reply to your letter regarding corruption in the European Institutions
and the role of the National Audit Office.
As you recognise, the National Audit Office does
not have a remit to investigate allegations of fraud or corruption within the
European Institutions and is not in a position to gather or review evidence on
such matters, or reach a judgement about their validity. This is the
responsibility of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Similarly the
Committee of Public Accounts is not in a position to judge the veracity of
allegations of corruption within the European Institutions.
You suggest that because National Audit Office
staff have regularly been seconded to the European Court of Auditors, it had a
corporate knowledge of the alleged corruption within the Court. My
understanding is that, as one might expect, while National Audit Office staff
are on secondment to the Court they are in effect employed by the Court.
Any allegations they might have would properly be reported to Court
authorities and to OLAF rather than to the National Audit Office.
Your letter also suggests that the National Audit
Office altered the content of a draft report (Financial Management in the
European Union, HC 859, 2001-02) prior to publication on 30 May 2002 following
an article in the Observer newspaper on 5 May 2002. You imply that the
National Audit Office briefed the journalist that critical findings would be
published in the report and subsequently withdrew them. The Comptroller
and Auditor General has confirmed that his report at no stage included
references to benefits received by MEPs or any other matters relating to
corruption within the Court and that the National Audit Office did not brief
the journalist concerned for the article of 5 May 2002.
Yours sincerely,
Nick Wright Clerk of the Committee Public Accounts Committee House of Commons Note: This letter was published for the first time as part of an exclusive report by JUST Response on May 7 2003.
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