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Written question asked by Helen Whately (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 May 2025. It was answered by Andrew Western (Labour) on Monday, 12 May 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Prosecutions

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the debate on the Report stage of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill on 29 April 2025, Official Report, column 236, how many sickfluencers have been prosecuted under the (a) Fraud Act 2006 and (b) Serious Crime Act 2007.

Answer

The Department does not use the term ‘sickfluencer’ as a defined term and, as such, does not collect data under this description. Furthermore, the Department is not a prosecuting body; DWP’s role is to refer cases for consideration of prosecution to the appropriate prosecuting authority who are then responsible for taking the case forward, including determining the most appropriate offences to prosecute under.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
50195
Session
2024-26
Related items
Subjects
Chronic illnesses Fraud Prosecutions Social security benefits
Legislation
Fraud Act 2006
Serious Crime Act 2007
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk