Government Freezes Almost 20k Credit Cards Amid Soaring Spending by Officials

Overview

Almost 20,000 government credit cards have been frozen due to a significant increase in spending by officials, prompting the need for reapplication.

Key Points

Holders of procurement cards, which allow civil servants to spend without ministerial oversight, will have to reapply.

Spending on these cards has surged by 300% in four years, reaching £675 million last year.

Notable expenses include £2,493 at a shoe shop in Barbados by the Foreign Office and £965 at a bowling club in Toronto, Canada.

New limits have been set, with the maximum spend for hospitality reduced from £2,500 to £500, requiring approval from a supervisor for amounts exceeding that.