To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2009, Official Report, column 389W, on the European Commission, what the sterling equivalent is of the totals provided in euros in the answer. (294085)

The sterling equivalent was £23 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the size of the financial correction likely to be imposed by the European Commission in respect of irregularities in management of European funds in relation to those (a) 1997-99 programmes and (b) 2000-06 programmes for which his Department has responsibility. (294098)

The financial correction imposed earlier this year by the Commission in respect of error rates found in two English 1997-99 programmes was £26 million. The departmental accounts for 2008-9 show (at note 29) a contingent liability of £215 million in respect of the 2000-2006 programmes. These liabilities are unlikely to be realised in full and the Department is taking steps to make sure that they are minimised. Only when all open audits are concluded and the programme closure reports have been submitted to the Commission on 31 March 2010, will we be able to assess what provision may be required against possible corrections by the European Commission.