Former BHS owner to be called before MPs

SIR Philip Green, right, is to be called to appear before MPs to face questions over the collapse of retailer BHS.

The retail billionaire will be invited to give evidence before a cross-party committee of MPs carrying out an investigation into the retailer’s administration, its pension liabilities and the impact it will have on the Pension Protection Fund.

Frank Field, the chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “We need to look at the Pension Protection Fund and how the receipt of pension liabilities of BHS will impact on the increases in the levy that will now be placed on all other eligible employers to finance the scheme.

“We will then need to judge whether the law is strong enough to protect future pensioners’ contracts in occupational schemes.”

Asked whether Sir Philip would be called before the committee, Mr Field told the Press Association: “I am sure he will be invited to give evidence.”

The chain collapsed into administration on Monday, putting 11,000 jobs at risk. Sir Philip’s ownership of BHS ran from 2000 until last year, when he sold the business for £1 to a group called Retail Acquisitions. His tenure at the helm has been called into question after leaving it with a £571m pension deficit while paying his family £400m in dividends.