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20th Report - DCMS management of COVID-19 loans

Public Accounts Committee HC 364 Published 2 April 2025
Report Status
Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations
25 items (1 rec)
Government Response
AI assessment · 25 of 25 classified
Accepted 12
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 6
Rejected 3
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twentieth report from Session 2024-25 · published 10 Jul 2025
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Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
20 Conclusion Acknowledged

£124 million of sports loans (57%) allocated to Premiership Rugby League clubs

Conclusion
The Department loaned £218 million in total to 83 sports bodies. Of this £124 million (57%) was loaned to the 13 clubs in the Premiership Rugby League, the top division of professional rugby union.49 We asked the Department whether it … Read more
Government Response Summary
The department is developing a comprehensive borrower engagement plan, building on existing strategies implemented by Loan Agents, guided by core principles that define the department’s approach to borrower engagement.
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion Acknowledged

Three Premiership Rugby clubs receiving loans became insolvent, others remain financially fragile

Conclusion
We noted, however, that, by June 2023, three of these clubs had become insolvent before they had made any repayment of the loans of £41.9 million they had received (London Irish £11.8 million; Wasps £14.1 million; and Worcester Warriors £15.7 … Read more
Government Response Summary
The department is developing a comprehensive borrower engagement plan, building on existing strategies implemented by Loan Agents, guided by core principles that define the department’s approach to borrower engagement.
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion Acknowledged

Department considered sector financial sustainability and actively supported professional rugby union's recovery.

Conclusion
We asked the Department if it thought about the financial sustainability of sectors as a whole, and not just of individual borrowers, when considering future insolvency projections. It confirmed that it did and cited the example of rugby union. It … Read more
Government Response Summary
The department is developing a comprehensive borrower engagement plan, building on existing strategies implemented by Loan Agents, guided by core principles that define the department’s approach to borrower engagement.
HM Treasury
View Details →
23 Conclusion Acknowledged

Department engaging with British Basketball Federation regarding franchising, funding, and loan repayment risks.

Conclusion
We asked the Department what it was doing with regard to professional basketball and the proposals by the British Basketball Federation to franchise out the running of the professional league which some have claimed is putting at risk the Department’s … Read more
Government Response Summary
The department is developing a comprehensive borrower engagement plan, building on existing strategies implemented by Loan Agents, guided by core principles that define the department’s approach to borrower engagement.
HM Treasury
View Details →