Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Contracts: Serious Fraud Office

Thursday 10 February 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister meets regularly with the director of the Serious Fraud Office to discuss case work and corporate matters.
  • The Serious Fraud Office is investigating suspected fraudulent applications for covid loans.
  • The Attorney General advises upholding the rule of law and respecting the High Court judgment on VIP lane arrangements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neale Hanvey
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating suspected fraudulent applications for covid loans, and there are concerns about the potential level of fraud involving contracts awarded by the Department of Health and Social Care during 2020-21.

Question

What recent discussions she has had with the Serious Fraud Office on the potential level of fraud losses arising from covid-19 related contracts awarded by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2020-21?

Answer from Alex Chalk

I meet regularly with the director of the Serious Fraud Office to discuss case work and corporate matters. I can confirm that the SFO is indeed investigating a number of suspected fraudulent applications for covid loans, but I can neither confirm nor deny that it is investigating frauds specifically connected to covid-19 contracts awarded by the DHSC.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Confirmation or denial about specific investigations related to DHSC contracts

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Neale Hanvey
Justice & Courts
Context

The Good Law Project has uncovered additional 18 VIP lane contracts, bringing the total to 68, with a value of £4.9 billion in PPE contracts. The National Audit Office head expressed concern over the potential material level of fraud losses.

Question

What steps does the Attorney General or Minister advise should be taken to uphold the rule of law and assure the House that contracts awarded through the Government's VIP lane were not fraudulent?

Answer from Alex Chalk

It is extremely important that we do not inadvertently misrepresent a judgment made in the High Court. The court indicated that arrangements did not confer any advantage at the decision-making stage of the process, and there was sufficient financial due diligence. Without seeking to go behind this decision, it is important to place it in context. This Government will abide by the rule of law.

Not addressed: Concrete steps advised for upholding the rule of law regarding VIP lane contracts

How: Inadvertently Misrepresenting A Judgment, Placing It In Context Without Addressing Specific Concerns

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email