Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Oliver Dowden and Alan Brown

Thursday 29th February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Oliver Dowden]

We continue to monitor energy security, principally through the National Security Council resilience committee, which I chair. I say gently to the hon. Lady that if she is concerned about energy security, why does her party consistently vote against granting new licences for North sea oil and gas, which would enhance our energy security?

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

Why do this Government think it is right that Church of England bishops in the House of Lords can have greater say on legislation affecting Scotland than the Scottish Parliament, and when will there ever be meaningful reform to the bloated House of Lords?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Oliver Dowden and Alan Brown

Thursday 8th December 2022 Commons Chamber

[Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)]

It is not just Baroness Mone who made obscene profits out of VIP lane-awarded contracts for PPE purchases. Private Eye has long highlighted other companies that made record profits through this process. When are the Government going to review all the contracts awarded through the VIP lane and try to recover money, instead of allowing people to profiteer from the pandemic?

[Oliver Dowden]

We have made a lot of progress in recovering moneys. For example, our checks prevented over £2 billion of fraud on bounce back loans and we have stopped over £700 million in over-claimed grants. We have invested £100 million to set up a taxpayer protection taskforce, which is expected to recover up to £1 billion by 2022-23.