Comittee chair says regret is 鈥渏ust words鈥�
MPs have challenged senior Carillion staff to hand back bonuses they were awarded in the 12 months before the firm went bust.
Labour MPs Rachel Reeves (pictured) and Frank Field, who co-chaired the committee hearing questioned the sincerity of the executives鈥� guilt if they were unwilling to turn over cash.
Reeves said: 鈥淎ll of you sitting here with multi-millions of pounds of payment from the company over the years say how sad and disappointed you are.
鈥淏ut what actions do you take to show that? Because it鈥檚 just words isn鈥檛 it? 鈥業鈥檓 sad, I鈥檓 disappointed, I wish I could have done things differently, but the money鈥檚 in the bank.鈥�
鈥淚nstead of the words why don鈥檛 you do something? Why don鈥檛 you give some money back? Try and give something back, try and put right some of these wrongs.鈥�
Field said while those facing the committee had opened up very effectively about how sorry they were, but that did not lead to any money coming going back to creditors.
He said: 鈥淲hy should we believe you that you feel so sad about all this when it doesn鈥檛 extend to your chequebook?
鈥淧ensions are getting cuts, large numbers of people aren鈥檛 going to get paid for their contracts, other people have lost their jobs and you are still alright, all of you. Aren鈥檛 you?鈥�
Former chief executive Richard Howson and ex-finance director Richard Adams said they would hand back bonuses if it was found they were improperly administered.
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