Subsidy data raised at PMQs

We were pleased to see that today our concerns about data on future UK subsidies were raised at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Question to the Prime Minister

John Penrose MP, the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption champion, asked:

Ministers have already committed to make the UK a world leader in subsidy transparency, so will he look carefully at proposals to publish details of more subsidies in future rather than fewer, as the Bill currently suggests?

The Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, replied:

My hon. Friend knows that today the House will discuss our landmark Subsidy Control Bill, which will allow us to seize the opportunities from having left the EU. Our new control system will provide quicker and more flexible support to British businesses, but he is right in what he said about transparency. Decisions on subsidies that were previously subject to approval by unelected EU bureaucrats will now be decided subject to the scrutiny and rigour of hon. Members across the House. That will give us the transparency and accountability that he wants.

This isn’t a very satisfactory reply from Mr. Raab.

MPs may be well bring ‘scrutiny and rigour’ to UK subsidies, but they can’t if they don’t know which subsidies are being awarded, by whom, to who, and for what.

Under the Government’s current proposals, that’s what will happen - only subsidies over £500,000 will be published on BEIS’s new transparency database, which means that about 50% of all subsidy spending will not be easily available for MPs and businesses to examine.

See the full exchange at PMQs.

Concerns about data picked up by all major parties

These concerns were picked up after PMQs at the Bill’s Second Reading, which saw concerns about transparency raised by all major parties.

It’s great to see the issue of transparency and data being taken seriously by MPs across the benches.

What the Government should do now

Now we just need the Government to act, by following our recommendations and ensuring that all future UK subsidies are included on the public transparency database.

This will allow businesses to challenge subsidies easily, and will help combat cronyism and unlawful subsidies - ensuring that the UK has the world-class subsidy system it needs.

We’ll continue to work with MPs from all parties, and civil society , to bring this issue up the agenda as the Bill progresses. If you can help, please get in touch.