17.This section is intended to enable the recovery of monies paid into the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund in error. This can arise either because a payment has been misdirected or because a payment has been made as a result of a failure to appreciate the true position. An example of this latter case is where a department pays in money as Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts (CFERs) that it is actually entitled to retain as a-in-a. The inability to recover monies paid in error has, in the past, resulted in departments delaying the payment of CFERs until they are certain none of the money can be retained. It is hoped that the power to enable amounts paid in error to be recovered will encourage quicker payment of CFERs.
Commentary on Sections Section 4: Government funds and accounts - payments in by error