Concentrix Contract Not Renewed

SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP has welcomed the decision by the UK government not to renew the contract with US firm Concentrix – but has said that questions remain to be answered about the award of the contract  - how much was actually saved and how much it is going to cost to ‘clean up another mess‘ caused by UK government incompetence.
 
Stewart Hosie MP commented : 
 
"It is welcome that the Tax Credit fraud and over-payment contract will not be renewed with Concentrix.
 
‘’This will be some comfort to those who have had benefits stopped as a result of their activity. But – the Concentrix contract was designed to save £1 billion in fraud and overpayment.
 
"The UK Government have to come clean on how much was actually saved–  it leaves many questions to be answered about UK government incompetence.
 
"How much of the so-called “savings” were as a result of false accusations by Concentrix against Tax Credit recipients?
 
"If there were, as reported, anywhere between 120 and perhaps many thousands of people affected by this, why did the Government not cancel their contract sooner?
 
"The cost of the Concentrix contract was reputed to have been £75 million. How much of that will be clawed back to directly compensate those affected?
 
"There are reports that civil servants have now been drafted in to clean up the mess left behind – and this will also have a cost. The taxpayer has an absolute right to know how we got into this mess and what plans the UK government has to sort it out.''