VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Small Businesses: Directors

Asked by Mr Connor RandLabourTreasuryTabled Answered 28 May 2026UIN 3013

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the context of financial support for businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, what evidence her Department used to classify small limited company directors as a fraud risk.

Answered by Lucy Rigby

Decisions on eligibility for COVID-19 financial support schemes were taken by the previous government. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) supported self-employed individuals whose incomes were adversely affected by COVID-19. The scheme was based on HMRC's Income Tax Self-Assessment system, through which people submit their tax returns, to target support as much as possible on those who needed it most, but also to minimise the risk of error and fraud.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim