Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Managing Public Money requires timely parliamentary notification of commitments and department agreed to notify committee.
Recommendation
Managing Public Money explains that whilst departments may make commitments to future expenditure without explicit parliamentary authority, Parliament should be notified of the existence of these commitments on a 31 DBT ARA 2023–24, p 154 32 Q 21 33 Correspondence from Department for Business and Trade, 2 May 2025 34 Q 23 35 Correspondence from Department for Business and Trade, 2 May 2025 13 timely basis. Best practice is to do this via a Written Ministerial Statement and Departmental Minute.36 In this instance, the Department included disclosures regarding the Letter of Support in its 2023–24 Annual Report and Accounts that were published in January 2025, relatively soon after the Letter of Support had been issued.37 In written correspondence after the session the Department agreed to notify the Committee of the next Letter of Support when it is issued.38 36 HM Treasury, Managing Public Money, May 2023, para A5.4.27 37 DBT ARA 2023–24, p 154 38 Correspondence from Department for Business and Trade, 2 May 2025 14 2 Bounce Back Loans Scheme Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and commits to formally notifying the Committee when the Letter of Comfort to the Post Office Limited is issued, with a target implementation date of Winter 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.3 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Winter 2025 3.4 The department will provide a formal notification to the Committee when the Letter of Comfort to the Post Office Limited is issued.