To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 8 May 2009, Official Report, column 454W, on regeneration, what steps her Department has taken to guard against repetition of such financial irregularities. (277236)

The 2007-13 round of the European regional development fund is being administered by regional development agencies. In setting up these programmes we have:

Worked with RDAs to agree a comprehensive set of instructions and guidelines that clarify at the start of the programme round what is required to ensure compliance with the regulations and to maintain a high level of financial control. These materials include specific reference to the weaknesses identified in the previous programme round.

Commissioned and carried out independent scrutiny of the management and financial control systems used by RDAs and CLG to ensure compliance with programme requirements.

Established an independent audit authority that will carry out a programme of audits of expenditure throughout the lifetime of these ERDF programmes.

Established comprehensive governance arrangements that provide for ongoing scrutiny of risk and a ready means of escalating and resolving any emerging problems in programme delivery, financial control and management.