Fraud Bill to save 拢1.5 billion progresses to the Lords
Plans to recover stolen cash and impose driving bans on those who repeatedly fail to pay back taxpayer money moved a step closer today, as Ministers vowed 바카라 사이트渢o address the unacceptable levels of fraud and error we바카라 사이트檝e inherited바카라 사이트�
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The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error, and Recovery) Bill, set to save 拢1.5 billion over the next five years, progresses to the Lords바카라 사이트�
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The Bill follows the biggest welfare fraud and error budget package in recent history바카라 사이트�
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Changes could help boost investment in public services and protect the public purse, as part of the Plan for Change
New souped-up powers from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), which will allow DWP to recover money directly from the bank accounts of fraudsters who can repay but are wilfully gaming the system in order not to, passed an important stage in the House of Commons as it had its Third Reading.바카라 사이트�
The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error, and Recovery) Bill, which could put these measures into law, will help DWP to catch fraudsters, prevent overpayments and protect taxpayer바카라 사이트檚 money. 바카라 사이트�
The Bill will save the taxpayer 拢1.5 billion over the next five years and is part of wider plans set out in the Autumn budget and Spring Statement to save 拢9.6 billion by 2030. This means taxpayer바카라 사이트檚 money can be invested in public services as part of the government바카라 사이트檚 Plan for Change.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western said:바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Enhancing our powers is essential to fulfilling our commitment to the public, as they will enable us to address the unacceptable levels of fraud and error we바카라 사이트檝e inherited and better protect public funds.
By strengthening our ability to catch criminals and prevent overpayments, we can keep up with the evolving nature of welfare fraud while reducing the risk of people falling further into debt, ensuring that more resources are directed towards improving the lives of people across the country.聽
The new legislation comes as the government is dealing with the broken welfare system it inherited, with out-of-control levels of fraud and error costing the taxpayer around 拢10 billion a year 바카라 사이트� with a total of 拢35 billion of taxpayers바카라 사이트� money incorrectly paid to those not entitled to the money since the pandemic. 바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
The Bill will also give powers to the DWP to get data from banks and other financial institutions to help verify the eligibility of those who receive certain benefits to make sure they are getting the correct payments 바카라 사이트� this will help to stop people falling further into debt because of incorrect payments and help the DWP spot fraudulent claims.바카라 사이트�
No personal information will be shared by DWP to support financial institutions in the identification of these accounts, and DWP will not have access to people바카라 사이트檚 bank accounts in verifying eligibility and will not be able to see where people are spending their money.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
Protections are central to the Bill, making sure there is proportionate and effective use of the powers, and that DWP is protecting vulnerable customers. For example, people will only be disqualified from driving as a last resort when they don바카라 사이트檛 rely on their car for work or for caring responsibilities and where they continually avoid repayment. Staff will be trained to the highest standards on the appropriate use of new powers, and we will introduce new oversight and reporting mechanisms.바카라 사이트�
On top of the Bill measures, the Chancellor announced in the Spring Statement a further commitment to recruit over 500 additional DWP fraud and error staff who will make better use of government data to correct errors in benefit claims, as well as increasing checks on potential Universal Credit claimants by introducing more ways to verify the amount of savings they hold, as well as their earnings and expenses.聽
The Cabinet Office바카라 사이트檚 Public Sector Fraud Authority will also be given more powers under the legislation, allowing the department바카라 사이트檚 investigators to detect and recover fraud in other departments and bodies across the public sector.바카라 사이트�
Minister in the Cabinet Office, Georgia Gould said:바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
This Bill will save taxpayers바카라 사이트� money. People are currently getting away with stealing vast sums of cash because our investigators don바카라 사이트檛 have the powers they need to detect and recover fraud across the public sector.
We바카라 사이트檙e giving our investigators new powers to tackle fraud wherever they find it - as well as doubling the time available to bring pandemic fraudsters to justice.
An additional new measure will see the time limit for civil claims against Covid fraud doubled from six to twelve years. This step change in the ability to fight fraud committed during the pandemic will give the Covid Corruption Commissioner and the Public Sector Fraud Authority more time to investigate complex cases and apply their new powers retrospectively - including the ability to raid properties and retrieve money from Covid fraudsters바카라 사이트� bank accounts.바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트�
The Bill measures will now progress to the House of Lords to be debated further.
Additional Information
- The Fraud, Error and Recovery Bill forms part of wider government plans to save a total of 拢8.6bn over 5 years in the biggest welfare fraud and error budget package in recent history.
- Since the pandemic, a total of 拢35 billion of taxpayers바카라 사이트� money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled to DWP benefits.