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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 what estimate she has made of the losses from (a) the benefits system and (b) other areas attributable to fraud committed by staff of her Department, in each of the last five years.
Answer

[holding answer 8 February 2010]: Information is not available in the exact format requested from 2004 as losses were only broken down into the specified categories from April 2005. Overall totals are therefore provided for 2004-05.The following tables contain the estimated losses arising from attempted or actual fraud by staff where the Department's investigation was completed in the year stated (not including the value of the fraud arising from false employment applications where the loss to the Department is notional).

All fraud: Value of loss (£) DWP total expenditure (£ billion)
2004-05 52,857 118.9
Value of loss (£)
Benefit fraud Other fraud DWP total expenditure (£ billion)
2005-06 83,135 109,895 123.6
2006-07 435,452 72,782 126.7
2007-08 346,527 195,151 133.3
2008-09 301,528 216,149 142.7

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 c597-8W; 316401
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