Context
The issue of benefit fraud is a concern for the government, necessitating action to protect taxpayers' money.
Question
What steps his Department is taking to reduce benefit fraud. At difficult economic times like this it is particularly important for us to protect taxpayers' money, so I welcome the Government's further investment to tackle fraud, but what efforts are they making to address organised crime in the benefits system?
Answer from Mel Stride
Dealing with fraud is, of course, a key mission for the Department. We have recently announced two tranches of additional investment totalling £900 million to prevent more than £1 billion-worth of fraud by 2024-25. My right hon Friend has raised an extremely important matter. Unfortunately, fraud does not happen just at the level of the individual but involves organised crime as well. Since July 2019, the Department has secured the removal of 1,500 social media accounts, many of which were related to organised crime, and since May 2020 it has suspended 170,000 claims.
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