[[Article 56U.K.Provisions specific to support for rural development
Where irregularities or negligence are detected in rural development operations or programmes, the relevant authority must make financial adjustments by totally or partially cancelling the funding concerned. In making the financial adjustments, the relevant authority must take into consideration the nature and gravity of the irregularities detected and the loss to public funds.
Amounts which are cancelled and amounts which are recovered, together with any interest, must be reallocated to the rural development programme to which they relate, but may not be allocated to operations which have been subject to a financial adjustment under paragraph 1. Where such amounts are received after the closure of the rural development programme to which they relate, they must either be allocated to other agricultural support measures or returned to the relevant consolidated fund.
For the purposes of the second paragraph, the ‘relevant consolidated fund’ is:
(a)in relation to England, the consolidated fund;
(b)in relation to Wales, the Welsh consolidated fund;
(c)in relation to Scotland, the Scottish consolidated fund;
(d)in relation to Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland consolidated fund.]]