I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 90 together.
First, I refer the Deputies to the reply I have given to the priority question on the same matter, the text of which was as follows. The reports to which the Deputy is referring relate to our programme in Kilosa in Tanzania. The facts of the matter are these. Our head of mission at our embassy in Dar-es-Salaam was advised that our monitoring and accounting systems were indicating that an amount of funds provided to our area based programme in Kilosa in Tanzania was not properly accounted for. He ordered an independent investigation which verified insufficient accounting for some procurements and tenders, the total of which could reach £50,000. I should mention that our total programme in Tanzania this year is £13.5 million.
On receipt of the results of the investigation, the head of mission went to Kilosa where he laid the information before a public session of the Kilosa District Council and demanded immediate action. His statement was picked up by the local media which presented it as the proper assertive approach for a donor friend of Tanzania to take. This was taken up in turn by the national media which took a similar line. This is the source of the information picked up in Ireland by a Sunday newspaper.
The current position is that six senior officials have been suspended and that a police investigation has been initiated with a view to bringing charges against those suspected of corruption. The responsible Tanzanian Government Minister is engaged on the matter and determined to see a full and thorough investigation. Our main focus is to seek to have the funds properly accounted for. If funds are indeed proven to be missing, we do also have the option of off-setting such an amount against further assistance.