Benefit Fraud by Criminal Gangs 2025-02-03
2025-02-03
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP asks about steps to tackle benefit fraud by criminal gangs, which is important for setting the country's finances on a sustainable footing and allowing investment in public services.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle benefit fraud by criminal gangs?
Our new Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill will update the Department’s powers to tackle fraud for the first time in more than 14 years. This includes enabling our serious and organised crime investigators to apply for a warrant; enter and search premises for evidence; seize items such as computers and phones; and bring criminal gangs to justice.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP emphasizes the importance of tackling fraud against taxpayers to set the country's finances on a sustainable footing, allowing for necessary investment in public services.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that tackling fraud against the taxpayer is key to setting the country’s finances on a sustainable footing and allowing the investment in public services that my constituents are so desperate to see?
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. We have a responsibility and a duty to use every possible measure to ensure that taxpayers’ money is wisely spent, on our schools, hospitals and police and on supporting those who are in genuine need.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP raises a case of a criminal gang that fraudulently obtained over £1 million from the Department for Work and Pensions and fled to an eastern European country. He asks if there is legal means to pursue these individuals.
Can the Secretary of State tell me whether there is a way, within the law of this land, of chasing those people up, getting them back here and finding out where all that misappropriated money has got to?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise this despicable case. The new powers in the Bill—the existing powers have not been updated for 14 years—will bring us into line with other public bodies and ensure that we can investigate this properly, secure the evidence and get our money back.
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