The final report by the Covid counter fraud commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, found that many schemes were rolled out quickly with significant risks.

Fraud and error linked to financial support programmes during the coronavirus pandemic cost taxpayers £10.9 billion, a report has found.

The authors warned that only £1.8 billion has been recovered and said “much of the shortfall is now beyond recovery”.

The final report by the Covid counter fraud commissioner, Tom Hayhoe, found that many schemes, including Eat Out To Help Out and Bounce Back Loans, were rolled out quickly with significant risks.

He said many decisions taken during Covid lockdowns “paid too little attention to the risk of fraud”.

Mr Hayhoe, who was tasked by Chancellor Rachel Reeves with trying to recover the public money lost t

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