Conclusion 3

The House has the power to issue summons requiring individuals to attend a Select Committee. However, the process takes time and our timetable was pressing. The fact that we did not initiate this process should not in any way be seen as an acknowledgement that Mr Greensill’s decision to decline our invite to give evidence was accepted or acceptable. Moreover, given the media coverage of the collapse of his company and the related issues, we find it surprising that he did not feel that it would have been beneficial to give his version of events, particularly if he felt he had nothing to hide. In this instance, we chose to continue our inquiry in spite of his refusal to attend. Should the next phase of the inquiry require it, he will be asked to give evidence again. Should he decline to do so, the Committee will take this further.