Sir Suma Chakrabarti, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) apologised this week to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over the submission of late accounts.
However, he could not promise to submit the accounts on time next year, he said, because IT problems within the department’s various arm’s-length bodies create delays in the process of gathering all the necessary financial data and preparing the final accounts.
Speaking in a hearing on Monday, Sir Suma said: “The accounts were late, and I am absolutely clear in my apology to the committee.” He later called the delay “lamentable”.
Committee chair Margaret Hodge said: “As chair of the committee that is accountable to Parliament and the public, it’s not acceptable.”
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