Contributions
752 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 10 allows the Minister for the Cabinet Office to act on behalf of another public authority to recover a recoverable amount, including bringing court or tribunal…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Fourth sitting)Clauses 7 to 9 give authorised investigators the powers to enter and search premises and execute search warrants, and powers for the seizure, retention and disposal of property.…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 5 will give the Minister enormous powers to request and share information for the purpose of facilitating the Minister’s exercise of the core functions under the Bill.…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)Amendments 12 and 13 are in a similar vein to amendment 14 —they allow the individual or organisation issued with an information notice to apply to the independent body or board…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)His Majesty’s Opposition agree with the Bill’s principles and support the Government in what they are seeking to do, but we will be using our best efforts to try to help them do…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)I beg to move amendment 11, in clause 3, page 2, line 36, at end insert— “(c) the information is likely to relate to the suspected fraud, and (d) the cost involved in recovering…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)I thank the Minister for those responses, but I think that the first-tier tribunal is perfectly capable of dismissing applications that are without merit, without significantly…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)The amendments are all about ensuring that there is not just independent oversight but an effective independent channel of appeal against information notices that does not just go…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)Clause 4 gives the Minister a considerable amount of power to compel individuals, as well as organisations, to provide an unspecified range of information within what could be…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)I think we will come back to this issue at a later stage. I want to see some action on amendment 11 going forward, but, for now, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.…27 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Third sitting)Clause 3 would give the PSFA the power to issue information notices to a third party, compelling them to provide information within a deadline. The amendments set out the…27 Feb 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023People throughout the United Kingdom will be disgusted if former terrorists such as Gerry Adams receive compensation from the taxpayer because of Labour’s decision to repeal the…26 Feb 2025HANSARDFamily BusinessesIt is an honour to rise today to speak on behalf of the very many family businesses in Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, because family businesses are at the heart of our…26 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q I will start by asking the panel a reasonably general question. What, in your experience, are the main limiting factors in investigating public sector fraud? Professor Button:…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q I think all three of you have suggested, at least, that the PSFA would be a positive step in tackling some of those challenges. Are there any gaps where you think the…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q The Government’s impact assessment recognises that some will change their behaviours to circumvent checks. How easy do you think it would be to close the loopholes that allow…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q Welcome, Ms Wood. A lot of the discussion on the first panel was about the balance between effectiveness and proportionality. How well do you think the Bill as currently drafted…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q If we are looking at moving some of those standards on to the face of the Bill, for questions such as reasonableness, is there a recognised definition or test for reasonableness…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q Given the extent and potential impact of those powers, is it your view that some further oversight or, potentially, appeal mechanism would be appropriate to help safeguard those…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q Perhaps I can start with the same question that I asked Helena Wood in the last panel. How well do you think the Bill, as currently drafted, strikes the balance between…25 Feb 2025