Covid Amnesty

Summary

A request was made for statistics regarding the number of individuals and businesses who admitted to incorrect claims during the COVID-19 amnesty period, as well as data on returned funds and subsequent investigations. The Department for Enterprise disclosed that no individuals explicitly contacted the government to admit incorrect claims, though 14 requested further information, while noting that the broader review of schemes is ongoing.

Key Facts

• No individuals contacted the government during the amnesty to indicate they had incorrectly claimed monetary support.
• 14 individuals requested further information during the amnesty process to help decide on repayment.
• The amnesty allowed recipients to return monies without providing a reason or facing investigation.
• A detailed review of eight specific financial assistance schemes is currently ongoing.
• The Department for Enterprise stated that some requested information is not held.

Data Disclosed

• 20-day amnesty period
• 14 individuals
• 2 September 2022
• 14 September 2022
• 26 August

Original Request

1.Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how many individuals contacted government during the 20-day amnesty period for Coronavirus support schemes to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support 2. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how many businesses contacted government during the 20-day amnesty period for Coronavirus support schemes to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support 3. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how much money - identified during the amnesty period - was identified as being paid out in error 4. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how much money - identified during the amnesty period as being paid in error - has been returned to DfE 5. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise - from the first day after the amnesty concluded - which shows how many investigations DfE a) started b) completed - into claims made in error (broken down by individuals/businesses) 6. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise - from the investigations from the closing date of the amnesty to now (26 August) - which show much money Dfe identified as being fraudulently obtained 7. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which shows how many individuals/businesses have had sanctions imposed on them for incorrectly claiming Covid support "

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor, St Georges Court Upper Church Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624 686400) Website: https://www.iomdfenterprise.im/

Our ref: 2609625 14 September 2022

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 2 September 2022 and which states:

"1.Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how many individuals contacted government during the 20-day amnesty period for Coronavirus support schemes to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support 2. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how many businesses contacted government during the 20-day amnesty period for Coronavirus support schemes to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support 3. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how much money - identified during the amnesty period - was identified as being paid out in error 4. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how much money - identified during the amnesty period as being paid in error - has been returned to DfE 5. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise - from the first day after the amnesty concluded - which shows how many investigations DfE a) started b) completed - into claims made in error (broken down by individuals/businesses) 6. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise - from the investigations from the closing date of the amnesty to now (26 August) - which show much money Dfe identified as being fraudulently obtained 7. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which shows how many individuals/businesses have had sanctions imposed on them for incorrectly claiming Covid support ""

Our response to your request is as below: For clarity, the Department for Enterprise is currently undertaking a detailed review of the majority of financial assistance schemes operated which provided support during the COVID period. The first stage of this review process was to offer an amnesty period, where any individual or business who had received financial assistance through the COVID schemes could return monies paid, without providing a reason or being subject to further investigation (unless only part of the total monies received were repaid, in which case any remaining payments could still be subject to review). The Schemes that are currently being reviewed are as follows: • Hospitality Transition Support Scheme (HTSS); • Fisheries Industry Support scheme (FISS); • Coronavirus Business Support Scheme (CBSS); • Strategic Capacity Scheme (SCS); • Coronavirus Business Adaption Scheme (CBAS); • Salary Support Scheme (SSS); • December Disruption Scheme (DDS);and • Winter Disruption Scheme (WDS); Whilst the amnesty period has concluded, the broader review is ongoing due to the large volume of payments to be assessed. As such, we have endeavoured to provide answers to your specific questions below, however, as some of the information is not held explanations have been provided to assist you.

1.Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how many individuals contacted government during the 20-day amnesty period for Coronavirus support schemes to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support As stated earlier in this request, applicants came forward for many reasons. With reference to the particular question, no individuals came forward to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support. In addition, as part of the amnesty process, a total of 14 individuals did request further information to help them decide whether it was appropriate for them to repay any monies received. Please note; the amnesty required no reason to be given, or recorded, in respect of any individual or business choosing to repay monies received. As such, it is not possible to confirm if an incorrect claim had been made.

1. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how many businesses contacted government during the 20-day amnesty period for Coronavirus support schemes to indicate that they had incorrectly claimed monetary support Thirteen businesses have voluntarily entered into arrangements to repay monetary support received from the COVID schemes.
   In addition, as part of the amnesty process, a total of fourteen businesses did request further information to help them decide whether it was appropriate for them to repay any monies received.
2. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how much money - identified during the amnesty period - was identified as being paid out in error As indicated above, the purpose of the amnesty was to provide the opportunity for businesses and individuals to pay back funding without the need for explanation and no further action being taken. Therefore, the Department does not hold information as to the reasons businesses decided to return funding and is unable to confirm whether this was a result of error or some other reason. Overall the money committed to be returned during the course of amnesty totals £186,059.99 from sixteen businesses.
3. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which confirms how much money - identified during the amnesty period as being paid in error - has been returned to DfE In order to assist businesses and in recognition of them coming forward as part of the amnesty period, repayment plans have been agreed with the thirtenen businesses who have chosen to repay monies received. As of 1st September 2022, £95,575.65 has been received from the total commitment outlined above. As explained previously, no reasons are recorded as part of the amnesty process, therefore, it is not possible to confirm whether financial assistance had been either claimed, or paid, in error.
4. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise - from the first day after the amnesty concluded - which shows how many investigations DfE a) started b) completed - into claims made in error (broken down by individuals/businesses) As indicated previously, the purpose of the amnesty was to provide the opportunity for businesses and individuals to pay back funding without the need for explanation and no further action being taken. Therefore, no investigations have been undertaken in respect of businesses who came forward as part of the amnesty. Such an approach was well publicised as part of the amnesty process.

At present there are six investigations underway but at present it has not been established as to whether these claims were valid or invalid. 6. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise - from the investigations from the closing date of the amnesty to now (26 August) - which show much money DfE identified as being fraudulently obtained So far there has been no money identified as having been fraudulently obtained; however, as stated above, a number of investigations remain ongoing. 7. Please provide any recorded information held by the Department for Enterprise which show how many individuals/businesses have had sanctions imposed on them for incorrectly claiming Covid support The Department does not hold any recorded information in respect of individuals or businesses that have had sanctions imposed as, at present, any investigations remain ongoing. Please quote the reference number 2609625 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.