The condensed timetable for introducing the schemes meant that a lot of the standard documentation that would accompany such a major policy initiative—business cases, options appraisal and detailed cost-benefit analysis—wasn’t undertaken back in the spring.57 HM Treasury asserted that the potential economic costs and human cost of large-scale unemployment if the schemes had not been introduced meant that they were necessary even if it was not possible to quantify this.58 We were nonetheless concerned that while there was a speedy intervention with the schemes initially it was important not to lose sight of the need to undertake value for money calculations on behalf of the taxpayer.59 54 Q 16 55 Qq 18–21 56 Q 36 57 C&AG’s Report, para 1.8 58 Q 36 59 Q 39 Covid-19: Support for jobs 17