Labour ministers ‘ignored the accountants’
By politics.co.uk staff
Labour ministers made decisions which went against accounting officers’ advice, David Laws has claimed.
His allegations followed reports that the coalition government has come across a ‘scorched earth’ policy of debts in hidden spending commitments.
Mr Laws, chancellor George Osborne’s number two in the Treasury, announced yesterday he was freezing all Treasury spending announcements made since January 1st in a bid to tackle the problem.
“We’re very concerned indeed that over the last few months of this government there were a lot of spending commitments which were made, some of which did not represent good value for money,” he told BBC2’s Newsnight programme.
“I think in some cases the decisions were made against accounting officers’ advice.”
Mr Laws said hundreds of decisions were being reversed by the coalition government but added he was unable to confirm the precise details of his claims.
“Civil servants are not in a position where they are able to tell us what ministerial advice was given. Because that was a matter for the last government,” he added.
“What we don’t know yet and we probably never will… is whether the chancellor or the prime minister overruled officials within the department. I’m not making that claim, because I haven’t got evidence for it.”
The chief secretary to the Treasury discovered a note from his predecessor Liam Byrne on his desk when he arrived in the department. It read: “Dear chief secretary, I’m afraid to tell you there’s no money. Kind regards – and good luck! Liam.”
Byrne to Laws: There’s no money left
Mr Byrne described his letter as a “joke”.
