I would like to inform the House that a cash advance from the Contingencies Fund has been sought for the Serious Fraud Office.
The advance is required to cover costs relating to the investigation and prosecution of very large and complex cases pending parliamentary approval of the 2024-25 supplementary estimate. Part of the SFO’s supplementary estimate will seek an increase in both its resource departmental expenditure limit and net cash requirement to cover the cost of very large and complex fraud, bribery, and corruption cases.
The SFO supplementary estimate includes additional funding for high cost casework with a small amount allocated for office improvement works as agreed through phase 1 of the spending review 2025.
Parliamentary approval for additional resources of £15,000,000 has been sought in a supplementary estimate for the SFO. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £15,000,000 will be met by a repayable cash advance from the Contingencies Fund.
The advance will be repaid upon Royal Assent of the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Bill.
[HCWS414]