Welfare Fraud: Serious and Organised Crime

17 Mar

Question

The UK Parliament's question session on welfare fraud by serious and organized crime gangs involved critical discussions surrounding the legislative and operational steps to mitigate fraud within the welfare system. Markus Campbell-Savours, representing the Labour Party, emphasized concerns over welfare fraud perpetrated by sophisticated criminal organizations. A notable development discussed was the impending Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which aims to modernize investigation powers, including granting authorities powers of search and seizure.

Outcome

The session highlighted strong bipartisan support for the forthcoming Fraud Bill and mutual recognition of the urgency to bolster the integrity of the welfare system. While Campbell-Savours raised specific concerns, the Minister pointed to increased preventative measures and investigatory tools as solutions that are being positioned to address these issues effectively.

Key Contributions

Markus Campbell-Savours

Labour

Inquired about strategic steps to combat welfare fraud involving organized crime.

Andrew Western

Explained inter-departmental collaborations and law enforcement involvement in tackling benefit fraud.

Original Transcript

Markus Campbell-Savours

Penrith and Solway

Lab

Question

UIN: 903205

12. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle fraud in the welfare system by serious and organised criminal gangs.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Andrew Western

15:09

The Department works collaboratively with other Departments and with law enforcement agencies on investigations of benefit fraud carried out by organised criminal gangs.

New powers in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which was mentioned earlier by the Minister for Employment, will strengthen our ability to tackle organised crime by modernising and enhancing our investigation powers, granting DWP officials powers of search and seizure, and ensuring that those who defraud the public sector face appropriate consequences.

Markus Campbell-Savours

15:10

I welcome the new powers in the fraud Bill, and note the huge increase in pension credit fraud in recent years.

Can the Minister explain how capital fraud and fraud in which recipients stay out of the country for longer than the rules require, which together account for 50% of all pension credit fraud, will be targeted under the new rules?

Andrew Western

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. The eligibility verification measure in the new Bill will do just that, providing a crucial data feed to help us identify fraud that relates to pension credit as well as to universal credit and employment and support allowance.

This will flag up claimants who are potentially in breach of eligibility under capital and abroad criteria, so that we can start to lower the unacceptable level of fraud and protect the public purse.

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