Written question asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 10 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 January 2002. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Monday, 21 January 2002 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1st May 1997 of fraud; and if she will make a statement. - Includes figure.

Answer: Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if she will make a statement. [27291] Ms Hewitt: Cases of fraud and irregularity involving staff and direct contractors are reported annually to the Treasury for inclusion in the Treasury Fraud report which is laid before Parliament. From April 1997 to date the total value of losses reported as due to fraud and irregularities is £197,445. When taken as a proportion of DTI expenditure for the same period this represents a loss of less than 0.002 per cent. No large organisation is totally free of fraud but we continue to promote an environment of zero tolerance and to act promptly in all suspected cases of impropriety.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 27291; 378 c562W;378 c558W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Department of Trade and Industry Fraud Finance Government departments
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk