Work and Pensions Secretary authorises spending to ensure that the DWP responds effectively to COVID-19, irrespective of the formalities of Departmental expenditure limits

Response to request from DWP Permanent Secretary recognises the 'extraordinary circumstances the country is facing'

The Work and Pensions Secretary has authorised additional DWP spending to ensure that it responds effectively to COVID-19 'irrespective of the formalities of Departmental expenditure limits'.

In a letter to the Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey (dated 7 April but published on 18 June 2020), the DWP's Permanent Secretary Peter Schofield had highlighted that, due to the significant additional activity the Department has undertaken in response to the coronavirus pandemic, it was not certain that expenditure could be contained within the limits authorised by Parliament, and that - 

'To ensure that the Department’s expenditure limits authorised by Parliament for 2019-20 do not prevent the Department effectively responding to COVID-19, this letter therefore serves as a formal request for a direction from you that the Department should continue to act at pace and continue to approve expenditure as needed to respond to COVID-19 even if this means a breach of Parliamentary financial control totals.'

In her reply dated 8 April 2020, Dr Coffey confirmed - 

'I recognise ... the work you and your teams have been undertaking with colleagues at HM Treasury to ensure that availability of funding is not a barrier or delay to the actions we need to take. On that basis, and recognising the extraordinary circumstances this country is facing, I am content to direct you to authorise spend to ensure that the Department effectively responds to COVID-19, irrespective of the formalities of Departmental expenditure limits.'

Mr Schofield's letter and Dr Coffey's response are available from gov.uk