Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Managing government borrowing

Status: Closed Opened: 12 Sep 2023 Closed: 3 May 2024 6 recommendations 17 conclusions 1 report

Government debt has risen over time, following support provided for the banking sector during the 2007-08 financial crisis, and measures to protect the economy and public health during the pandemic. The Committee reported in 2018 that high levels of Government debt left little room for manoeuvre in public spending, with the unknown costs of Brexit …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifteenth Report - Managing government borrowing HC 74 5 Mar 2024 23 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
15 Conclusion Fifteenth Report - Managing government … Not Addressed

Treasury facing substantial losses from QE indemnification, impacting government debt control.

The Treasury indemnifies the activities of the Bank of England’s Asset Purchase Facility. This means that the Treasury receives any profits from QE but is also liable for any losses. The OBR told us that until very recently, QE was making “quite considerable profit” for the Treasury – and that …

Government response. Although the committee's item was a conclusion, the government's response states it agrees with and has implemented a 'recommendation'. The response discusses general improvements in crisis management preparedness and NS&I's system transformation, but it does not directly address the observation …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
7 Dec 2023 Dax Harkins · National Savings and Investments, James Bowler CB · HM Treasury, Richard Hughes · Office for Budget Responsibility, Sir Robert Stheeman · Debt Management Office View ↗