Member

In a democracy, when we grant powers that affect individuals’ rights, privacy and property, we must ensure that an elected Minister who is accountable to Parliament ultimately stands behind their use. These amendments reinforce that principle. They would ensure that the PSFA remains a tool of public administration, not a law unto itself. These probing amendments rightly test the Government’s thinking. How do they envision the authority’s internal governance functioning? What checks will be in place to ensure that that authority is exercised responsibly? Most crucially, how will Parliament be assured that those acting in the name of the state are doing so with proper oversight? Each of these proposals helps to answer those questions in a way that reinforces the Bill’s stated aim: to tackle public sector fraud effectively, lawfully and with public confidence.