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 Tuesday, 15 January 2002. It was answered by Lord Moonie (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 January 2002 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1st May 1997 of fraud; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if he will make a statement. [27295] Dr. Moonie: The reported estimated cost to the Department of fraud since 1 April 1997 is £4,666,853. No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. The figure relates to a combination of suspected and proven frauds and thefts with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion. A significant element of estimated cost or value in any given year relates to initial "at risk" estimates applied to suspected procurement fraud. The majority of these are resolved as "no crime" or have a proven value significantly lower than original estimates.

Secondary information