Covid outbreak is not Government’s fault – but its poor management is

THE news and press have now started to expose the scale and scope of furlough fraud, and this does not include fraud on grants provided.

This is against a background of lost livelihoods, little or no financial support to millions of self employed people and others.

A select committee of MPs have requested lists of those awarded furlough (hopefully including those paid grants) for them and then the public to be made aware of this. The MPs have requested this by the end of next January, but were told this only could be done by the end of 2021.

Why is this? There are obviously claims from a reference point, how much was paid and when. Basically an audit trail which can be examined by the excellent Senior Fraud Squad who could engage appropriate staff from the unemployed during the investigation.

What I do not understand when claims were received, why the Government did not foresee this and implement major deterrent warnings for any fraud committed?

These monies could have been directed to the NHS, the care sector and other key worker areas. These are the people who are risking their health and lives to protect all of us.

Other monies could have been diverted to help with child poverty, general poverty, mental health support, the elderly, so many worthwhile and essential services not funded by the government, cash starved public services and of course providing financial support to those who did not receive anything.

It is intimated that the tax payer will have to pick up the cost of this fraud through taxation. Then there is the question of increases in council tax next year. This could well force more people into benefits, and less money in people’s pockets to spend in our ailing high streets and local shops creating even more unemployment and greatly delaying the economic recovery. This is a vicious circle.

The health minister on December 20 in a TV interview said the new strain of Covid was out of control, so what did this government expect the reaction would be? It was well reported that the virus was spreading far more quickly and this was apparently known by the Government months ago.

Covid outbreak from earlier this year is not the Government’s fault – but its poor management of Covid since is.

David Bonomi

Bristol