22
Accepted
The Bank confirmed that the investigation was still ongoing as it was awaiting a formal...
Recommendation
The Bank confirmed that the investigation was still ongoing as it was awaiting a formal response from Greensill’s joint administrators. The Bank explained that it had agreed to extend the deadline for Greensill’s response to August 2021 because it wanted to receive a “fulsome answer” to its detailed set of concerns.63 When asked why Greensill appeared to have a completely different interpretation of the scheme rules, the Bank told us that “there is always scope for a lawyer to interpret different rules and different definitions differently”.64 While the investigation is ongoing, the guarantee remains suspended until a decision is reached.65 We asked when the Bank envisaged being able to make a final decision about the suspension of the guarantee. The Bank told us that it would not be in a position to answer this until it had received a response from Greensill’s administrators, and did not provide a timeframe for how long it thought this might take.66 The Department told us that if a future call on the guarantee was made following a default from any of Greensill’s borrowers, it was important that government was clear on its rationale for suspending the guarantee. It noted that the decision on whether Greensill breached the scheme rules would ultimately be decided in a court of law.67 Lending under CLBILS and the use of funds
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, confirming the Bank's investigation into Greensill's lending prioritises thoroughness over speed, and expects to inform the Committee of the outcome in the early months of 2022.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The Bank has written to the Committee on this matter on 17 December 2021. 5.3 The Bank’s priority is that the investigation into Greensill’s lending under the scheme is thorough, in order that a fully informed view can be taken as to whether the CLBILS rules were breached by Greensill. The obligations of the Guarantor remain suspended whilst the investigation into Greensill’s lending under CLBILS continues. Whilst the suspension is in place, the Government is not obliged pay out on any claim on the guarantee in respect of CLBILS facilities provided by Greensill. 5.4 In light of the amount of taxpayer money potentially at stake, the Bank’s primary concern is that a decision is taken upon a full and informed picture, rather than that a quick resolution is reached. The Bank will inform the Committee when the outcome of its investigation into Greensill’s lending has been reached, which is expected to be in the early months of 2022.
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