HANCOCK’S FIRM WON CONTRACTS FROM THE NHS
Claims Health Secretary has breached ministerial code over company’s deals
MATT Hancock has “serious questions to answer” after revelations he and his sister own shares in a company benefiting from lucrative NHS contracts.
Labour’s Angela Rayner has called on the Health Secretary to explain how a firm owned by members of his family won a place on an NHS Shared Business Services framework to provide services to the English NHS.
Hancock has also been accused of appearing to breach the ministerial code by failing to declare the company in which he holds more than 15 per cent is owned by members of his family.
Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “Tory sleaze and cronyism has engulfed this government”.
Hancock declared in the MPs’ register of interests last month he owns shares in Topwood Limited, which specialises in secure storage, shredding and scanning of documents.
The Health Service Journal reported that the firm, owned by his sister, won a place on a framework to provide services to the English NHS in 2019, as well as contracts in Wales.
It also reported that Hancock did not declare his connection to the firm in the relevant register of interests, a claim rejected by the Government.
The Government said Hancock acted “entirely properly” and all declarations of interest have been made “in accordance with the ministerial code”. Hancock is reported to have discussed the gift of the shares in the firm before accepting them and has no participation in running Topwood Limited or in awarding the contracts.
Rayner demanded the Government publishes the Register of Ministers’ Interests before elections taking place throughout the UK on May 6.
The debacle comes amid claims of “cronyism” in the Tory Government, with Labour calling for an inquiry into the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal which saw ex-PM David Cameron lobbying the Chancellor and the Health Secretary on behalf the firm that hired him after leaving office.
It has also emerged top civil servant Bill Crothers had taken a job at Greensill Capital while still on the Government payroll.
A Government review and three inquiries by parliamentary committees will look at Cameron’s role and that of Crothers.
The National Audit Office has also launched a probe into Greensill’s involvement in the Government’s Covid financial support schemes.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “We need to get to the bottom of this, we cannot have this situation where there’s apparent double jobbing.”
The SNP’s Deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald MP said: “The stench of corruption and cronyism is unavoidable.”