15
Accepted
In early 2020, Greensill approached a number of government departments seeking involvement in various business...
Recommendation
In early 2020, Greensill approached a number of government departments seeking involvement in various business support schemes.41 Greensill approached the Treasury and the Bank of England to access the Covid Corporate Finance Facility (CCFF) and was rejected as it was ineligible.42 The Treasury Select Committee covered Greensill’s application to the CCFF in detail in its report published in July 2021.43 Greensill also approached UK Export Finance (UKEF) through a lender, seeking a £500 million loan supported by an Export Development Guarantee. UKEF began discussions with Greensill in late March 2020 and rejected this application in June 2020. UKEF also rejected a revised application to the same scheme in September 2020. UKEF rejected Greensill’s application as it did 34 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9 35 Q 69 36 Q 69 37 Qq 20, 71–72 38 Q 22 39 Qq 22–24, 110; C&AG’s Report, para 2.27 40 Qq 100, 10–112; C&AG’s Report, para 2.27 41 C&AG’s Report, para 1.14–1.15 42 Treasury Select Committee, Lessons from Greensill Capital: correspondence, May 2021 43 Treasury Select Committee, Lessons from Greensill Capital, Sixth Report of Session 2021–22, HC 151, July 2021 Lessons from Greensill Capital: accreditation to business support schemes 15 not feel it was sufficiently aligned with the policy intent of the guarantee. Furthermore, UKEF’s due diligence had identified media reports highlighting concerns relating to Greensill; including its governance and the level of exposure to some of its customers.44
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, stating BEIS has already raised the importance of cross-government information sharing and will work with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to develop existing processes where necessary.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 1.2 The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has written to the Committee on this matter alongside this Treasury Minute. 1.3 BEIS (the department) recognises that sharing information on companies across government and between public bodies can bring benefits for policymaking, service delivery, and efforts to mitigate financial crime. The department already plays an active role in facilitating this practice across government in a sensible and proportionate way, where permitted by law and with regard for the appropriate balance of sensitivities and interests. 1.4 BEIS has raised the importance of this across other departments that are responsible for coordinating business information and will work closely with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to develop existing processes where necessary, bearing in mind commercial and legal restrictions. 1.5 The department also works closely with its arms-length bodies, including Companies House and the Insolvency Service, on appropriate data sharing, for example in response to fraud in the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. 1.6 The department keeps its internal processes under regular review.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry
Lessons from Greensill Capital
Report
Twenty-Sixth Report - Lessons from Greensill Capital: accreditation to business support schemes
20 Nov 2021
HC 169
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.7 yrs
Report published
20 Nov 2021