Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Fraud

Thursday 14 November 2024 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government are working to recover public funds lost to covid-19 related fraud.
  • The Crown Prosecution Service is collaborating with investigators to pursue individuals involved in covid-19 fraud.
  • The current Government is taking action on covid-related fraud, unlike the previous Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jack Abbott Labour (Co-op) Ipswich
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The question arises from discussions about the effective prosecution of covid-19 related fraud, an issue that has been ongoing since the start of the pandemic.

Question

What discussions she has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on ensuring the effective prosecution of covid-19 related fraud?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

The Government are doing everything possible to recover millions in public funds lost to covid-19-related fraud. The Crown Prosecution Service is working closely with investigators to pursue all those who dishonestly lined their pockets with Government money.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific discussions or mechanisms were detailed

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Q2 Jack Abbott Labour (Co-op) Ipswich
NHS
Context

The question is prompted by the previous Health Secretary's statement about not paying taxpayers' money for undelivered contracts, contrasted with current figures showing significant fraud. It highlights a delay in addressing this issue seriously.

Question

In 2021, the previous Health Secretary said regarding covid-19 contracts that 'where a contract is not delivered against, we do not intend to pay taxpayers' money'. Judging from the figures that highlight the enormous scale of covid-19-related fraud, that was little more than a promise made and a promise broken by the previous Government. I am pleased that our Government have made it a priority to recoup as much of that money as possible from scammers who profited at taxpayers' expense. However, four and a half years on from the first lockdown, my constituents in Ipswich, many of whom sacrificed so much during the pandemic, will be wondering why it has taken this long, and a change of Government, to take the issue as seriously as it deserves. Can the Solicitor General tell the House whether that is down to the previous Government's incompetence or lack of effort, or whether it is symptomatic of their more general recklessness?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

My hon. Friend raises an important point. In contrast to the previous Government, this Government are taking action on covid-related fraud. We have heard from the Chancellor that she will be appointing a covid corruption commissioner, who will review and assess all the PPE contracts that were entered into before any are written off.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeframe or details about previous government's actions or incompetence

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