The Committee has summoned Entrust chairman, Lord Cranbrook and joint acting chief executives Mike Whiting and Neil Cerrigan to appear before it in November. Richard Broadbent, chairman of HM Customs and Excise, will also be attending on behalf of the government department which is responsible for the scheme.
The Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Environment sub-committee recommended in April that the Public Accounts Committee carry out an investigation into Entrust's work following the sub-committee’s report on the conduct of Entrust and the alleged misconduct by Entrust concerning a witness. The sub-committee said that Entrust had behaved in a way which was unacceptable for a regulator and also condemned the company for ignoring constructive criticism.
The sub committee’s report concluded: “We remain concerned about the conduct of Entrust, its chairman, chief executive and board, and its fitness for the role of regulator of the landfill tax credit scheme. We are especially disappointed that the chairman and chief executive appear, to take no view on the appropriate strategic direction for the regulator of the scheme.”
Stephen Newton, of Entrust, said: “We haven’t got clarification of what is planned. The Environment sub-committee said it would ask the Public Accounts Committee to look into certain issues and we assume that will be what is happening. At the moment our acting joint chief executives will attend and so will Lord Cranbrook.”
Entrust is currently without a permanent chief executive, following Richard Sills’ resignation in July, but Mr Newton said that a new chief executive would not be in position by November and added that an internal appointment was a possibility.
Mr Newton added: “The Landfill Tax Scheme has contributed over 400 million to projects to date. The scheme is very successful, it is incredibly fraud free and we have very little abuse.”
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