RICHARD Ottaway says he was "encouraged" by a health minister's latest response to questions about the financial scandal at NHS Croydon.
A week after raising the issue in the House of Commons, the Croydon South MP again grilled health minister Jane Ellison on why no one had been held responsible, this time during a debate at Westminster Hall on Tuesday.
Ms Ellison acknowledged the case - which saw Croydon post a £28 million misstatement of its accounts in 2010/11 - was "extremely catastrophic" and promised to investigate further.
She then noted measures which have been introduced to ensure it does not happen again.
The investigation into the scandal was dogged by the refusal of key players, including former chief executive Caroline Taylor, to answer questions about what happened.
Following the debate, Sir Richard said: "I am encouraged by Ms Ellison's feedback – she fully admitted this situation was a mess and is obviously taking it very seriously.
"Positive changes that have been made to the running of finances across NHS London as a result of the Croydon catastrophe, but we are still no closer to holding anyone in charge at the time to account.
"It is scandalous that people in charge of the PCT's accounting at the time have moved on to other jobs in the NHS and are immune from being questioned.
"Clearly there is a statutory flaw if even a secretary of state can't force them to give evidence, and I strongly believe something should be done about it."
