Rover probe call by MPs
Demands were today made for the Government to spell out why an inquiry into the collapse of Rover has still not been completed and has cost more than £8 million of taxpayers' money. Demands were today made for the Government to spell out why an inquiry into the collapse of Rover has still not been completed and has cost more than £8 million of taxpayers' money. MPs called on Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling to explain why the probe is still going on two years after the failure of the Birmingham-based car firm. Around 6,000 Rover workers and hundreds more in West Midlands component firms lost their jobs when the company collapsed, and the Government paid out £176 million to support, retrain and find jobs for those involved. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
MPs called on Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling to explain why the probe is still going on two years after the failure of the Birmingham-based car firm.
Around 6,000 Rover workers and hundreds more in West Midlands component firms lost their jobs when the company collapsed, and the Government paid out £176 million to support, retrain and find jobs for those involved.
Yet there are still no answers as to why Rover failed.
The inquiry has so far cost £8.4 million – with most of the money going to accountants who were taken on to look at Rover's books.
Tory MP Peter Luff, who is chairman of the Commons trade and industry committee, last night tabled a parliamentary question to Mr Darling demanding he provide former Rover workers with answers.
The Worcestershire MP said his committee was concerned about the delay in the inquiry. Most of the money – fees of £6.3 million and £1.1 million in VAT – has gone to the forensic accountancy firm, BDO Stoy Hayward.
When the inquiry was set up in June 2005, the DTI said it did not expect inspectors to report before the middle of last year "at the earliest".
Mindful of long-lasting inquiries in the past, ministers said they wanted the investigation concluded "with all reasonable speed".
However, investigations under the Companies Act are carried out completely independent from government, and inspectors have considerable powers to see relevant papers and interview witnesses.
