We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather and travel information for Tuesday, February 22, that will help your get your day off to the right start.
Fraud and error resulted in £5.3bn being lost through the UK Government furlough scheme, an official report has revealed.
The scheme, which gave financial support to employers to pay their staff during the height of the pandemic, ended on September 30, 2021.
A report by the Commons' public accounts committee said that UK Government’s response to the pandemic "has exposed the taxpayer to substantial financial risks from fraud and error" and it does not know the exact amount but estimates it to be £5.3bn, which is 8.7% of the scheme's total spend.
In other news, the Welsh Government has issued a statement on future of free Covid testing in Wales.
Wales news headlines
Welsh Government issues statement on future of free Covid testing in Wales
The Welsh Government has indicated it will be unable to provide free Covid testing to everyone in the wake of the UK government's decision not to continue to fund it.
On Monday, February 21, Boris Johnson said free testing would end from April 1. You can read the whole timetable of the easing of restrictions in England, which will also see self isolation rules end, here.
In Mr Johnson's plan, only some groups will be able to access testing. The detail on that is expected in March however it is thought that it will be limited to the most vulnerable in terms of age and health.
In a new statement issued on Tuesday, a Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have asked UK Government to clarify funding arrangements – they have so far failed to do so. We are working through the possible implications for Wales of yesterday’s announcement on the National Testing Programme. However it appears to seriously undermine our ability to carry out universal free testing."
Speaking after the Prime Minister's announcement, Wales' health minister Eluned Morgan said ministers in Wales were still waiting for the exact details of how much funding for testing there would be.
"The fact is, we don't know what the answer is in practice because they couldn't give us any clarity about how much and whether there will be additional funding to maintain testing within the UK," she said.
"So they're clearly not going to get rid of it entirely but the question then is how much will they keep and from what pot will they pay for that. I think they suggested that there may be around £3bn but we're not clear about whether that's over and above what's already been given to the NHS or whether that will be additional."
Full story, including what the Welsh minister had to say on the Uk Government's changes to self isolation payments here.
Former Senedd member wrongly used taxpayers' resources worth thousands
Former Senedd member Neil McEvoy wrongly used taxpayers' resources worth thousands of pounds for political purposes, an inquiry has concluded.
An investigation by the Senedd's standards commissioner found that the former South Wales Central MS delegated political work to staff employed by the Senedd, used his publicly-funded office for campaign group meetings, used his Senedd office to interview people for a political role, and used electricity and equipment paid for from the public purse at his office to print and fold thousands of leaflets.
The probe also found that a member of the former MS's staff sent "two abusive messages" to someone who it was likely would be a witness in the investigation "in an attempt to persuade them not to give evidence" to an investigation into the former Plaid politician.
Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain found there was "no direct evidence that Mr McEvoy directed or was at the time even aware" of the abusive messages but called on the Senedd to consider making it an offence to interfere in such a way.
"Had this misconduct been in relation to a civil or criminal court case rather than the investigation of a complaint it would have most likely have been dealt with as either contempt of court or an attempt to pervert the course of justice," he said.
The Senedd's cross-party Standards Committee, which has published Mr Bain's report along with its decision on the appropriate sanction, said it intended to recommend changing the law to make interfering in a Senedd standards inquiry an offence.
In relation to the use of taxpayer-funded resources, it concluded Mr McEvoy had shown a "wilful and persistent disregard of the provisions of election guidance, general election guidance and the Rules and the Code [of Conduct for Members of the Senedd]". It also "noted a lack of contrition".
It quoted the finding of the commissioner that Mr McEvoy's conduct had cost the taxpayer at least £3,450 as a low-level estimate and said that it did not have the power to force him to repay it but invited him to do so.
Here is how the roads are affected at 7:30am:
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A484 in both directions closed due to fallen tree between Llangeler and Saron.
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Reports of traffic problem on A477 between St Florence turn off (Sageston) and Redberth turn off (Tenby). Traffic is coping well.
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B4362 in both directions closed due to flooding between A44 and Watery Lane.
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B4518 in both directions closed due to flooding between Vaenor Park ( Llanidloes ) and Sun Hill (St Harmon).
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Cilonnen Road closed due to fallen tree from Tirmynydd Road (Three Crosses) to Cilonnen (Cilonnen).
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Slow traffic on A465 Heads Of The Valleys Road at High Street (Dow lais Top Roundabout). In the roadworks area.
Coronavirus headlines
The astronomical amount of money lost to 'fraud or error' in the furlough scheme
Fraud and error resulted in £5.3bn being lost through the UK Government furlough scheme.
The scheme, which gave financial support to employers to pay their staff during the height of the pandemic, ended on September 30, 2021.
A report by the Commons' public accounts committee said that UK Government’s response to the pandemic "has exposed the taxpayer to substantial financial risks from fraud and error" and it does not know the exact amount but estimates it to be £5.3bn, which is 8.7% of the scheme's total spend.
The estimated loss to fraud and error across all Covid-19 schemes and loans by HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work & Pensions, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is not known but is expected to be at least £15bn.
The report reads: "Government estimates that losses due to fraud and error from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme alone will be £5.3bn. The estimated loss due to fraud and error across all Covid-19 response measures is not known but is expected to be at least £15bn across measures implemented by HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Work & Pensions, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. The total cost across government remains uncertain and could be higher because of the long loan repayment terms."
An update in September 2021 found the government had spent £261bn on 374 measures in response to the pandemic. The measures are expected to cost a total of £370bn over their lifetime.
The committee said it was concerned that the Treasury "does not intend to adequately monitor and update the ongoing cost of Covid-19 to the taxpayer" and does not yet know how much money has been lost due to fraud and error and has not said how it will learn lessons.
Latest infection rate for Wales
Latest figures from Public Health Wales show that the infection rate for Wales has dropped again.
New data released on Tuesday, February 22, and covering a 72-hour period to 9am on Monday, February 21, shows 1,672 new positive cases, bringing the total to 809,882. The data covers Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as PHW has stopped publishing figures at weekends.
The overall number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive in Wales has now risen to 6,956.
The latest infection rate based on PCR tests for the seven days up to February 17 now stands at 233.5 cases for every 100,000 people – a reduction from the 275.3 cases recorded on Monday.
The infection rate based on PCR tests is only a guide to the spread of Covid in Wales as it does not include lateral flow test results, which are reported weekly in Wales. People with no symptoms who test positive on an LFT no longer need a confirmatory PCR test.
The latest data on lateral flow tests, published last Thursday for the week to February 12, show there have been a further 16,905 positive test results reported. That's down from 18,690 the previous week. Positivity also decreased from 11.87% to 10.24%. The highest incidence rate was in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area with 680.2 positive tests for every 100,000 people.
National news headlines
Police partygate questionnaire leaked as Boris Johnson awaits possible fine
Downing Street staff have been asked by police to provide a “lawful exception” or “reasonable excuse” for parties which took place during lockdown, a leaked questionnaire shows.
The questionnaires were leaked to ITV News on Tuesday, and form part of the evidence the Metropolitan Police is gathering as part of its investigation into potential law-breaking in Downing Street.
The questionnaires were sent to all those accused of breaking Covid regulations by attending gatherings at the height of the pandemic, ITV News said.
The Prime Minister has already returned his copy of the questionnaire and the document gives the first insight into the kind of questions he is likely to have been asked.
The document is effectively the written equivalent of a police interview under caution, and Boris Johnson is understood to be the first Prime Minister in history subject to that level of police questioning.
The document states at the outset that those accused have an opportunity to provide “a written statement under caution”.
It then goes on to ask around a dozen questions, including:
- “Did you participate in a gathering” on a specific date"
- “What was the purpose of your participation in that gathering”
- “Did you interact with, or undertake any activity with, other persons present at the gathering. If yes, please provide details.”
The questionnaire asks for timings of the person’s attendance at the party and how many others were present.
It also provides them with a chance to justify their actions, asking: “What, if any, lawful exception applied to the gathering and/or what reasonable excuse did you have for participating in the gathering?”
Full details can be found here.
UK Foreign Secretary reveals potential further UK sanctions on Russia
The Foreign Secretary has given a glimpse into further sanctions the UK could impose on Russia, warning those close to Vladimir Putin will see his incursion into Ukraine as a “self-inflicted wound”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that three billionaire allies of the Russian president and five Russian banks would face punitive measures in response to their country’s aggression.
Writing in The Times, Liz Truss said the UK was also considering sanctions for members of the Russian Duma and Federation Council, and extending Crimea’s territorial sanctions to the separatist controlled territories in the Donbas.
“No UK individual or business will be able to deal with these territories until they are returned to Ukraine,” she said.
Ms Truss also said the UK has a “long list” of people who have been complicit in the actions of the Russian leadership, who the Government is willing to “(turn) up the heat” on unless Russia pulls back its forces.
Beyond financial sanctions, Ms Truss added the UK was willing to introduce “measures to limit Russia’s ability to trade and prohibit a range of high-tech exports, degrading the development of its military industrial base for years”.
She said: “In time, even those close to President Putin will come to see his decisions this week as a self-inflicted wound.”
Sport headlines
Rhys Patchell turns down England offers to stay at Scarlets and keep his Wales career
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell has put talk of a move to England to bed by signing a new deal with the Scarlets.
The 28-year-old, who can also play at full-back, was out of contract at the end of the season and English clubs, including Bath, were said to be sniffing around the former Cardiff playmaker.
Having been an integral part of the PRO12 title-winning side of 2017 and the team that reached the PRO14 final and Champions Cup semi-final a year later, the last few years have been blighted by injuries.
However, keeping hold of a player of Patchell's calibre is a significant boost for Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.
“Patch is an experienced international player, who has been playing at the top level for a long time now,” said Peel.
“He has worked extremely hard to get back out on the field after injury and is going well for us at the moment.
“I know there was interest in him from other clubs so we are delighted he has signed a new contract.”
Another factor for staying would likely be the opportunity to add to his 21 caps for Wales, even if injury has pushed him down the pecking order - with Dan Biggar, Callum Sheedy, Rhys Priestland and Gareth Anscombe all now ahead of him.
If he had decided to leave Wales he would have given up his international career due to the 60-cap rule.
Swansea City legend Alan Curtis collects MBE for services to Welsh football
Swansea City legend Alan Curtis has received an MBE for his services to Welsh football.
In December 2020, it was announced that former Swansea star 'Curt' - who also spent three seasons with Cardiff City - had been respected in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
And on Tuesday, the 67-year-old - who scored six goals in 35 appearances for Wales between 1976 and 1987 - was presented with his MBE by the Duke of Cambridge at Windsor Castle.
“To finally receive my MBE is a great honour,” said Curtis.
“The overwhelming emotion is one of pride really.
“Nothing would have been possible with the support of my fellow team-mates, staff, supporters and my family over the years and I’m extremely grateful to have had the career I did.
“To be involved in football for 40-odd years, mainly with the Swans and then other clubs I played for too, has been fantastic and I’ve had a wonderful journey.”
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