To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to raise awareness of the dangers of identity fraud among employees at his Department. (130431)

[holding answer 28 March 2007]: As part of a recent review of fraud policy the department acknowledged identity fraud as a potential risk. The review led to a number of steps during 2006 to raise general awareness of fraud, including publishing revised guidance on fraud on the DEFRA internal anti fraud website and publishing a number of articles in the in-house magazine.

Specific parts of the department will also take action as appropriate. For instance, the Rural Payments Agency has an anti fraud unit—The Counter Fraud and Compliance Unit—which actively counters identity fraud for claimants and is responsible for considering all referrals relating to suspected fraud involving external customers and agents.