Michelle Donelan set to face more questions over taxpayer-funded £15,000 payout

Cross-party group of peers expected to ask for more details about why minister made and withdrew claims about two academics

The cabinet minister Michelle Donelan is to face more questioning this week over her judgment after taxpayers funded a payout to an academic she had falsely accused of supporting Hamas.

The science secretary will appear before a cross-party group of peers on Tuesday, when she is expected to be questioned on the process that led her to make the accusation, which she has since retracted. The decision to leave taxpayers with the 15,000 bill is also likely to be raised. The sum was paid without admitting any liability", the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)said.