The corporate constructing the HS2 rail line between London and Birmingham has reported one in all its subcontractors to the tax authorities over attainable fraud.
Whistleblowers made allegations over the way in which pay was dealt with for some development employees on the high-speed line.
HS2 Ltd stated final month it was conducting its personal investigation, wanting into two companies who provided it with employees. The corporate has now additionally referred the matter to HMRC.
The companies in query had been offering employees to Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV), a contractor for HS2.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is predicted to lift the difficulty in Parliament this week. It’s the newest problem to beset the troubled large rail infrastructure challenge.
HS2 has confronted myriad challenges and spiralling prices because it was first introduced in 2009.
It was initially designed to spice up capability on the railways between the north and south of England however the final, Conservative, authorities determined to scrap the second part of the challenge, which included constructing traces to Manchester and Leeds.
Earlier this yr whistleblowers flagged considerations over the way in which some subcontracted employees had been being paid. They stated self-employed employees had been falsely declared as salaried employees, with “faux” payslips submitted at the next payrate. The allegations had been first revealed within the i newspaper in Might.
One of many labour suppliers is known to stay suspended from new contracts whereas inquiries proceed.
An HS2 spokesperson stated: “We deal with all whistleblower allegations significantly and are persevering with to conduct our personal investigation.”
The agency stated it inspired anybody with related data to report it through confidential inner channels.
The Division for Transport stated final month it had “a zero-tolerance angle in the direction of fraud, bribery, and corruption” and would guarantee any claims of wrongdoing had been completely investigated.
