Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to promote a programme of financial waste reduction in EU institutions. [71110]

Justine Greening MP; Economic Secretary to the Treasury[holding answer 9 September 2011]: The Government's top priority is to reduce the size of the EU Budget, through both annual and longer term Financial Perspective negotiations. The UK has consistently pressed member states for a concerted effort to ensure all EU spending delivers the highest value for money, through strict prioritisation to reduce waste.

The UK has first aimed to minimise annual growth in administrative expenditure in EU institutions. The Government, working in the EU Council, reduced the 2012 administrative budget from the 1.3% first proposed, to 0.4%. We are also working to achieve very significant savings in such spending over the next financial perspective, through reductions in three major areas: EU staff remuneration, EU staff numbers and all other administrative spending such as EU procurement and support services.