House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Charlie Elphicke calls on the government to tackle "fake self-employment" which he says amounts to "shirking". 

The chancellor acknowledges this is a problem but says this is something the review he's commissioned from the RSA's Matthew Taylor will look at. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Now for the Public Account Committee’s second inquiry: how the Department for International Development (DfID) tackles fraud.

With increases in international aid in recent years – up to 0.7% of GDP – and the department’s decision to spend at least 50% of its budget in “fragile states and regions”, DfID has been more susceptible to fraud.

A National Audit Office report found that DfID’s fraud caseload has quadrupled between 2010 and 2016, with an estimated 0.03% of the department’s budget lost through it.

Around 93% of these fraud cases were investigated and the rest were given advice.

Taking questions on how they investigate and deal with this are:

• Sir Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development
• Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Under Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Sir Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive, British Council

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour peer Baroness Royall of Blaisdon asks when the government will give advice to EU students wishing to study in the UK in 2018-19 on their eligibility to access student loans.

Currently EU students applying for a place at English universities for the next academic year will be eligible for loans and grants.

Government spokesman Viscount Younger of Leckie replies that the government hopes to have information available before applications open for the academic year 2018-19.

Baroness Royall says that will not help universities trying to plan ahead and warns that without certainty EU students will look elsewhere. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Sir Amyas Morse says that there must be early planning in preparation for Brexit, whilst accepting that there are different scenarios for this. 

He says until he knows a timescale or whether it is a hard or soft Brexit, he is no position to comprehensively outline what additional resources are needed. 

But he envisions that certain areas, including the HMRC and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will face particular strains, dealing with new roles they will have post-Brexit. 

He says the NAO is ready to play an independent role in case a "row" breaks out between the EU and UK over payments due after exiting the union. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Richard Drax asks the chancellor to look to the international aid budget to help plug the gap left by the NICS rise reversal. 

Philip Hammonds declines, saying the 0.7% of GDP commitment to aid is "locked unless this House were to decide otherwise". 

House of Commons
Parliament

As Labour MPs continue to press the Chancellor over what he knew about the potential for a broken manifesto promise and when, Conservative backbenchers Robert Courts, Robert Jenrick and Nigel Mills are among those to rally round and thank him for his decision. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, hoC

Acting chair Richard Bacon asks if most of the operational savings of £1.2bn come from just four areas in government.

Auditor General Sir Amyas Morse says "yes it does", but he says that he is optimistic that there seems to be greater dialogue with permanent secretaries. 

These saving come from reforming government’s commercial activities through improving the means of purchasing, negotiations and disputes, and reducing the cost of the government’s property estate.

The NAO's Chief Operating Officer Michael Whitehouse says that a lot of operational inefficiencies have gone, but there are still issues with factors such as procurement and inventory. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's John Woodcock asks: "Was he unaware of breaking a manifesto promise, or aware and hoping no-one would notice?" 

Philip Hammond shoots back: "Neither." 

He repeats his suggestion that today's announcement brings policy in line with the "spirit" of the manifesto.  

House of Commons
Parliament

The DUP's Sammy Wilson says the closing of flat VAT rate will also hit the self-employed. 

Philip Hammond defends the policy, saying it has been "a systematic route for abuse".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg raises a laugh by praising the Chancellor for "converting some dessicated socialists to the cause of lower taxation".

House of Commons
Parliament

Following a question from Labour's Rachel Reeves, Philip Hammond denies that today's announcement was the prime minister's decision.  

He says the decision was taken this morning and he came to the House at the earliest opportunity. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

The Public Accounts Committee will shortly begin a double-bill of inquiries, starting with a look at the National Audit Office’s 2016-17 estimates.

This will be followed at around 3pm with the inquiry on how the Department for International Development tackles fraud.

The National Audit Office (NAO) is the external auditor of all government departments and a number of public sector bodies.

Their role is to scrutinise public spending on behalf of Parliament and work with the Public Accounts Committee to ensure they can question government spending decisions effectively.

Although it is the Public Accounts Commission's role to examine the NAO’s annual spending proposals, the Commission will also take advice from the committee – who gather evidence in sessions such as this one.

Giving evidence will be:

• Sir Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General
• Michael Whitehouse, Chief Operating Officer, National Audit Office