Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Benefits System: Fraudulent Activity

Monday 7 February 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Fraud in the benefits system is an issue the Department takes extremely seriously.
  • The Department secured an additional 613 million in late 2021 to assist efforts to clamp down on fraudulent activity.
  • This investment will enable a targeted review of universal credit claims and support greater investment in advanced analytics and the serious and organised crime team.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Scott Benton
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Not specified, but the concern is about fraudulent claims affecting the integrity of welfare payments.

Question

What steps she is taking to tackle fraudulent activity in the benefits system. I am concerned that fraud undermines the trust in our benefits system and affects those who abide by rules.

Answer from David Rutley

Fraud in the benefits system is an issue that we take extremely seriously. The Department is working on a proactive and comprehensive approach to ensure that those who commit fraud are tracked down and held accountable. That includes undertaking a targeted review of universal credit claims, investing in advanced analytics and expanding our serious and organised crime team.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify concrete steps or funding amounts for tackling fraudulent activity.

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Q2 Scott Benton
Taxation Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question follows up on a previous concern about the integrity of welfare payments, focusing specifically on financial investment for anti-fraud measures.

Question

What investment is the Department making to assist efforts to clamp down on those who seek to rip off the taxpayer? The vast majority of my constituents work hard and pay their taxes. They rightly expect the welfare state to be there to support them if they need it, but understandably they have little time for those who seek to exploit the system for their own ends.

Answer from David Rutley

I understand where my hon. Friend is coming from. In late 2021, the Department secured an additional £613 million that will enable a targeted review of universal credit claims and lead to even greater investment in advanced analytics and in our serious and organised crime team so that we can crack down on fraudsters and save the taxpayer billions of pounds.

Answered
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