The government is facing questions over tens of millions of pounds owed to suppliers who worked on upgrades to three prisons in England. At least 40 companies are believed to be owed the money for work they carried out in Birmingham, Liverpool and Dorset, before lead contractor ISG entered administration in September. The small and medium-sized firms say they should have been protected because the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) promised to pay for the projects through ring-fenced Project Bank Accounts (PBAs).
And they lied.
But two companies working on an upgrade to HMP Birmingham have told the BBC the PBAs were "not worth the paper they were written on".
Is any government promise ever worth that?
The MoJ declined to comment.
Of course it did.
Mr Crumbie said he felt "very bitter" not to have been given the protection PBAs promised. "We were quite clearly told the money was safe," he said.
Did you start the work when the government was different, Mr Crumble? If so, more fool you.
The Cabinet Office withdrew its guidance on PBAs in July, despite describing them as a "pioneering new way of paying supply chain members in construction". The BBC asked why this had happened and when new guidance could be expected but has not received a response.
They don't feel a need to explain themselves to the taxpayer or voter. So, all those in the building trade, tremember this when the next election rolls round, eh?
