Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Lessons for government: monitoring and responding to companies in distress

Status: Closed Opened: 13 Dec 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 17 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

Direct intervention in the private sector has generally been seen as a last resort by the Government, with private sector companies allowed to fail as part of the efficient working of markets and the economy. The Government’s approach in this area is now changing, with the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the energy crisis all …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Twentieth Report - Monitoring and responding to companies i… HC 425 13 Mar 2024 27 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
5 Conclusion Twentieth Report - Monitoring and respo… Rejected

Set functional standards for monitoring and responding to companies in distress across government.

The Cabinet Office has not assessed or coherently identified the skills and expertise needed for monitoring and responding to companies in distress. We have previously raised concerns about the level of commercial, risk management and corporate finance expertise in government amid increasing demand for these skills, all of which are …

Government response. The government rejects setting new functional standards, stating existing guidance and risk management strategies suffice. Instead, the Cabinet Office Commercial Function will collaborate with the Risk Centre of Excellence, UKGI, and HM Treasury to explore a more targeted approach for …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
17 Jan 2024 Hannah Gray · UK Government Investments, Jess Glover · HM Treasury, Neil Johnson · Department for Business and Trade, Sir Gareth Rhys Williams CB · Cabinet Office View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Feb 2024 Correspondence from Gareth Rhys Williams CB, Government Chief Commercial Office…
6 Feb 2024 Correspondence from Jessica Glover, Director General, Growth and Productivity, …