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Around £5m in overclaimed covid-19 financial support is still yet to be recovered by the Government, it has emerged.
The figure was included within the latest update from the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), whose remit includes the audit and consideration of public funds to help ensure islanders are getting value for money.
The 'Tackling Fraud and Error report', published today, includes data on outstanding debt relating to the various financial support packages rolled out by the Government at the height of the pandemic.
Pictured: The financial impact of the Covid pandemic saw many businesses fighting to stay afloat.
Businesses were able to apply for this support through initiatives such as the Co-funded Payroll Scheme, as the Government sought to mitigate the impact of public health measures on the island's economy.
However, as Lynn Pamment notes in her report, it later identified around £12.6m in overclaimed support across the schemes that were introduced.
It has since been recovering the debt, which stood at less than £7m this time last year.
Pictured: Lynn Pamment is the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Ms Pamment wrote: "Levels of identified overclaims of financial support from Government increased during the Covid-19 pandemic with the introduction of new schemes to provide support for businesses and individuals."
The report stated that, at the end of September 2024, £5 million had yet to be recovered.
The bulk of the outstanding debt (£4,787,271) stemmed from the Co-Funded payroll scheme, while the Fixed Cost Support Scheme and Visitor Accommodation Support Scheme accounted for £11,000 and £177,296 respectively.
Pictured: A graph showing the unrecovered debts stemming from the various Covid financial support schemes as of September.
Regarding the former scheme, Ms Pamment recommended that the Government "prioritise the completion of the reconciliation of CFPS claims made to other records held in respect of the employers making the claims".
"These reconciliations should be carried out as soon as possible," she added.
Express has contacted the Government for comment.
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