Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 related Fraud: Prosecutions

Thursday 7 December 2023 · 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 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial meetings with the Serious Fraud Office director occur regularly to discuss covid-19 related fraud cases.
  • The vast majority of covid fraud cases are not within the Serious Fraud Office's remit and are handled by other appropriate agencies.
  • The new Serious Fraud Office director has initiated new investigations and brought a new energy and rigor to the SFO.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neale Hanvey
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Discussions between the Serious Fraud Office and relevant government officials regarding the prosecution of COVID-19 related fraud cases.

Question

What recent discussions has she had with the Serious Fraud Office on the prosecution of covid-19 related fraud?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

The Attorney General and I regularly meet with the SFO director; however, the vast majority of covid fraud cases do not fall within the SFO's remit, and investigations are handled by the most appropriate agency. Recently, as the hon. Gentleman will have heard, I visited the Insolvency Service and heard about its excellent work in relation to bounce bank loans.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details about recent discussions with the SFO on prosecution of COVID-19 related fraud cases.

How: I Visited The Insolvency Service And Heard About Its Excellent Work In Relation To Bounce Bank Loans.

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Q2 Neale Hanvey
Justice & Courts Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns raised by the former director of the Serious Fraud Office that red flags were ignored and a Parliament spending watchdog estimates potential fraud of £16 billion.

Question

Given the statement by the former director of the Serious Fraud Office that red flags were ignored, and that Parliament's own spending watchdog estimates potential fraud of £16 billion, how much has been recovered to date and what further lessons have been learned and applied to ensure that identification and prevention of fraud is embedded across all Government Departments, and why are the UK Government not recovering that fraud with the same zeal and determination that they have for impoverishing benefit claimants who have had overpayments through no fault of their own?

Answer from Michael Tomlinson

I entirely refute and disagree with the hon. Gentleman's final comment, but he will be pleased to know that the new director of the SFO has set off apace. He has launched new investigations. There is a new energy and a new rigour within the SFO, but I repeat that it is not just the SFO that conducts such investigations; the Insolvency Service is also involved, and is also carrying out some excellent work.

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on amounts recovered from fraud or lessons learned, nor addressed the comparison to benefit claimants' overpayments recovery efforts.

How: I Entirely Refute And Disagree With The Hon. Gentleman'S Final Comment.

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