Contributions
2,217 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesMy noble friend is correct that, while there were reduced checks in place on bounce-back loans, there was still a requirement for lenders to make checks, and we are quite clear in…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesMy Lords, that investment in detecting fraud and error in universal credit is incredibly important. If we look at the statistics on universal credit during the pandemic,…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesThe Government take fraud extremely seriously and have been consistently clear that fraud is never acceptable. The latest estimates are set out in the department’s 2020-21 annual…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesMy Lords, as I said to the noble Lord, updated estimates from the Government will come out in this year’s annual accounts. However, I have two points to make to the noble Lord.…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesMy Lords, in relation to the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, the estimate of fraud in that scheme has already come down, but there is more work to be done. On the question from the noble…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesI agree with the noble Earl, and I recognise that, particularly with bounce-back loans and the CJRS, the speed at which the Government needed to act was one of the trade-offs with…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesI think one of the reasons that the Treasury, and other government departments, can have high turnovers is that they have talented staff who do excellent work, and that can be…06 Apr 2022HANSARDCovid-19: Financial Support SchemesI absolutely agree with the noble Lord. In addition to the £48.8 million that we announced in the Spring Statement, we have also put additional resources and money into the HMRC…06 Apr 2022HANSARDMarriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) BillI thank my noble friend Lady Sugg for introducing this important Bill. I also acknowledge the work of Pauline Latham MP in successfully taking it through the other place so that…01 Apr 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubIt is correct that the financial sanctions do not change the ownership of frozen assets. We do not control the frozen assets and it is for the club to determine the process of the…31 Mar 2022HANSARDEconomy: Spring StatementMy Lords, it is a real privilege to close this debate on behalf of the Government. It has benefited from a wide range of thoughtful contributions, so I shall focus my closing…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubThe Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation in the Treasury considers all licence applications on a case-by-case basis. OFSI does not publicly disclosure the details of…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubMy Lords, the Government do not want to prejudge any decision Chelsea may make; it is for the club to ensure the best owners are found. We would expect all due diligence and…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubMy Lords, the noble Lord is correct that the primary recommendation of the fan-led review is clear and is one that the Government endorse in principle. Football requires a strong…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubMy noble friend will know very well that I cannot prejudge any content of a future Queen’s Speech. All I can say to my noble friend—and to reassure noble Lords across the House—is…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubOf course, there is already a process in place for the Premier League to judge a fit and proper person. We cannot judge whether a different test would have prevented the sale of…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubMy Lords, I have a feeling that multiple different clubs may be commended to me in the course of this Question. The only thing I would say to the noble Lord is that the Government…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubMy Lords, I have heard reference to Chelsea as DCMS FC, but I should be clear that financial sanctions do not change the ownership of the frozen assets. The Government would like…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubThe noble Lord is quite right that football has had numerous opportunities to get its house in order. It has failed to do so. That is why we undertook the fan-led review and are…31 Mar 2022HANSARDChelsea Football ClubI thank the noble Lord for his bedtime reading recommendation and join with him in the spirit of what he says about the need for greater fan involvement in the governance of…31 Mar 2022