Mr. Tony Cotter:

In overall terms, the allocations that I referred to in my opening statement for these countries are specific country allocations, but there is a further spend under the EDF which would benefit these countries. In so far as the accounting and transparency directive is concerned, it is an EU accountancy and transparency directive and it will be implemented and monitored by the EU mechanisms.

I cannot be specific on the areas under consideration for expansion in the directive, but I assure the committee that there is increasing recognition at international level of the need to stop the illicit flight of capital from developing countries. I am aware that it has been discussed in such august surroundings as the G7, the G20, the European Union and the United Nations. There is an increasing international focus on the importance of addressing the matter and I am satisfied that in the time ahead we will see an expansion of the measures.