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Written question asked by Lord Harper (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 February 2010. It was answered by Jonathan Shaw (Labour) on Monday, 15 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Departmental Fraud

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in her Department were responsible for each instance of fraud or attempted fraud attributable to such staff (a) against the benefits system and (b) in other areas in each of the last five years.
Answer

[holding answer 8 February 2010]: The figures in the following table show the number of staff involved in instances of attempted or actual fraud where the investigation was completed in the year stated. The figures relate to all the benefits administered by DWP, theft of assets and financial irregularities. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports information on staff investigations to HM Treasury.

Number of staff
Benefit fraud Other fraud Total staff in post
2004-05 4 48 126,988
2005-06 52 118 119,972
2006-07 51 93 114,500
2007-08 62 110 107,998
2008-09 42 156 102,374

While recognising that only a very small number of our staff commit fraud, the Department has a robust approach to the detection, prevention and deterrence of staff fraud consistent with HM Treasury guidance. Where fraud is proven, staff are subject to disciplinary action and, in the case of criminal offences, the Department will normally seek to prosecute, engaging the police where necessary.The Department has a whistleblowers' hotline to enable staff to report suspicions of fraud.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
507 c597W; 316400
Session
2009-10
Related items
Written Questions: Government Responses
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Department for Work and Pensions Fraud
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk