Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Acknowledged
Bounce Back Loan Scheme design left taxpayers exposed to significant fraud and error.
Conclusion
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) is the largest of the Covid-19 business support loan schemes, with 1.6 million loans approved, totalling £47.4 billion.19 BBLS gave the lender a full (100%) government-backed guarantee against the outstanding balance of the facility (both capital and interest).20 The British Business Bank, one of the Department’s partner organisations, was responsible for delivering the business support loan schemes, including the BBLS. We acknowledged in our previous report that the Department acted at speed, but left the taxpayer at risk of large losses due to fraud and error. In order to roll the scheme out quickly, agreements allowed lenders to follow their own ‘business as usual’ procedures for monitoring, chasing payment, and identifying fraud for government backed loans. The Department included limited requirements for lenders to collect and share data.21
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the Department provided more than £38 billion for the Bounce Back Loans Scheme.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Furthermore, the Department provided more than £38 billion for the Bounce Back Loans Scheme, operated by the British Business Bank through commercial lenders, since April 2020.