The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will examine the work of the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner.
","secondaryDescription":"The Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner estimates that fraud and error across Covid‑19 schemes totalled around £10.9bn. Over £9bn of this has yet to be recovered. To aid in the recovery of taxpayers’ money, the Commissioner has examined schemes ranging from PPE procurement to Furlough, Covid Grants, and Bounce Back Loans.
\r\nThe PAC will hear from Tom Hayhoe, the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, on the key findings of his report, including the feasibility and value for money of recovering funds. The Committee is likely to explore the lessons learned and how they can be applied to future emergencies. Another likely topic of scrutiny will be whether there was corruption, conflicts of interest and other forms of wrongdoing in the so-called “High-Priority Lane” for PPE procurement.
\r\nMPs will then question representatives from Departments including the Department for Health & Social Care and the Department for Business and Trade on the findings of the Commissioner’s work.
\r\nMPs could examine how Departments are working to improve the reliability and transparency of data when working with third parties, and the work they are undertaking to manage fraud risk in future emergency spending.
\r\nThe Committee is also likely to question Departments on the measures they have taken to prevent further mistakes, such as the procurement of 11 billion PPE items which were never used.
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