Member

In conclusion, while we support the overarching aim of the Bill to strengthen debt recovery and protect the public purse from fraud, we must ensure that, in doing so, we do not compromise fairness, due process or basic accountability. The system we are building here will directly impact individuals and families, not abstract entities, and we must therefore approach its design with care and rigour. The amendments we have tabled in this group seek to address specific shortcomings in the Bill. They aim to ensure that powers are exercised transparently, that those affected are adequately informed and protected and that Ministers and officials are held to account on the decisions they take. Whether they concern the use of blunt formulae to estimate financial interests, the need for timely notification to innocent third parties, the right to understand the reasoning behind ministerial decisions, or the importance of clarity following a person’s death, our proposals are intended to make the system more humane, more accurate and more just.