Oral Answers to Questions

The Cabinet Office session of Oral Questions began with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Pat McFadden) responding to tabled questions on the cost to the public purse of fraud and error in government departments and agencies. He acknowledged that the latest estimates show a huge range of between £40 billion and £60 billion lost to fraud and error, and stated that the government will work closely with the newly announced Covid corruption commissioner to try to recover as much of this money as possible. The Shadow Ministers for the Cabinet Office (Tom Rutland, Chris Vince, and Dr Rupa Huq) pressed the government on issues such as the use of new technologies to tackle fraud, the need to avoid cronyism in public procurement, and the importance of supporting unpaid carers who may face overpayment clawbacks. In the topical questions section, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson (Christine Jardine) asked about improving relations with the devolved administrations, while the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office (John Glen) questioned the plans for resetting the UK's relationship with the EU. The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Georgia Gould) also responded to questions on the government's approach to public procurement and facilities management services, while the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Nick Thomas-Symonds) addressed issues around standards in public life and support for victims of the contaminated blood scandal.