Covid Fraud

Lord Sikka Excerpts

Monday 29th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

The Government have been clear that we expect robust action to be taken to protect the taxpayer, and we have fully supported the appropriate legal and insolvency processes being followed. As I understand it, PPE Medpro Ltd is now in liquidation, and matters related to the recovery of funds are therefore for the liquidators to pursue in line with their statutory duties. Any recoveries that can be made will be determined through those independent processes. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on those proceedings.

[Lord Sikka (Lab)]

My Lords, one of the problems with the commissioner’s report on Covid fraud is that it pays little attention to the role of consultants in devising various schemes. For example, the furlough support scheme did not ask companies to provide the national insurance numbers of employees; it was, therefore, open to fraud. Companies seeking loans were not required to say when they were formed and what their HMRC reference number was; again, it was open to fraud. Are the Government still using the same consultants? Have they taken any action to ensure that those consultants pay the price for the poor design of various schemes?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am afraid I do not know whether we are still using the same consultants; I am more than happy to check for the noble Lord.