Written question asked by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 November 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 6 November 2015 (named day). It was answered by Priti Patel (Conservative) on Friday, 6 November 2015 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Jobcentres: Plaistow

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to establish whether more senior staff were involved in fraudulent misuse of the Flexible Support Fund since the dismissal of two staff from Plaistow Jobcentre in May 2014.

Answer: Allegations of misuse of the Flexible Support Fund at Plaistow Jobcentre during 2013 and 2014 were investigated fully by the Department's investigators. Investigators also undertook further work, completed in July 2014, which examined whether there was any evidence of wider misuse of the Flexible Support Fund at this office or other offices in the immediate area. Disciplinary action was taken in all cases where evidence of the misuse of the Flexible Support Fund was proven; there was no evidence of misuse by senior officers.

Secondary information