Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 20 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 2004. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 13th January, 416 c708W, on agency staff, if he will estimate the cost of fraud covered by criminal prosecutions; and what extrapolation has been made from these figures of the wider cost of timesheet fraud. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 708W, on agency staff, if he will estimate the cost of fraud covered by criminal prosecutions; and what extrapolation has been made from these figures of the wider cost of timesheet fraud. [149853] Mr. Hutton: The value of detected fraud amounts to £33,465 in those cases resulting in criminal prosecution of agency staff. No wider, meaningful extrapolation can be made from this figure.

Secondary information