The former chief executive, chair and auditors of collapsed retailer Wilko have been called to face questions by MPs next week.
MPs from the parliamentary business and trade committee wrote to those previously associated with the firm on Thursday, detailing questions on decisions made while the chain was “heavily indebted”.
This includes probes into a £50 million shortfall in Wilko’s pension fund, alongside some £9 million - as laid out by administrator PwC - in dividends paid to its owners since 2019.
Wilko collapsed earlier this year, after no substantial rescue bids were made while the 400-store budget chain was under administration.
Some 12,000 people had been employed by the chain prior to its collapse, with evidence at the Commons’ committee hearing set to centre around whether Wilko could have been saved.
Partners from auditor EY are set to be quizzed by MPs, alongside former chair Lisa Wilkinson and chief executive Mark Jackson.
The hearing comes after the GMB union, which represented Wilko workers, called on the government in September to investigate the collapse.