Oral Answers to Questions

Lillian Jones Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Torsten Bell]

What this Government are doing is getting on with building the energy infrastructure that this country needs, and we are not going back to the 11% inflation seen under the Conservative party. This Government are supporting small businesses, because the hon. Gentleman is right on one thing, which is that high energy bills are not in the interests of British industry. That is why we are getting on with fixing the energy system that we inherited.

[Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab)]

12. What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department’s policies of the final report of the Covid Counter-fraud Commissioner, published on 9 December 2025.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves)]

This Government are determined to get back all the money that was lost through covid fraud and corruption. That is why I appointed the covid corruption commissioner when I became Chancellor, and we have already brought in £400 million that the previous Government gave up on.

[Lillian Jones]

This Government have recouped £400 million in covid fraud and error, with HMRC recovering a massive £1.3 billion, as well as aggressively pursuing the firm linked to Baroness Mone, PPE Medpro. Does my right hon. Friend agree that this Government’s relentless recovery action demonstrates that it is only under Labour that this money is recovered from fraudsters to do what it should do, which is to fund our public services?

[Rachel Reeves]

Sadly, I cannot comment on any individual cases, but I am absolutely determined to get that money back, because that money belongs in our schools, hospitals and public services, not in the pockets of Tory friends and donors.