[holding answer 8 February 2010]: The figures in the following table show the number of staff involved in instances of attempted or actual fraud where the investigation was completed in the year stated. The figures relate to all the benefits administered by DWP, theft of assets and financial irregularities. This analysis is consistent with the way in which the Department reports information on staff investigations to HM Treasury.
Benefit fraud Other fraud Total staff in post 2004-05 4 48 126,988 2005-06 52 118 119,972 2006-07 51 93 114,500 2007-08 62 110 107,998 2008-09 42 156 102,374
While recognising that only a very small number of our staff commit fraud, the Department has a robust approach to the detection, prevention and deterrence of staff fraud consistent with HM Treasury guidance. Where fraud is proven, staff are subject to disciplinary action and, in the case of criminal offences, the Department will normally seek to prosecute, engaging the police where necessary.
The Department has a whistleblowers’ hotline to enable staff to report suspicions of fraud.
[holding answer 8 February 2010]: Information is not available in the exact format requested from 2004 as losses were only broken down into the specified categories from April 2005. Overall totals are therefore provided for 2004-05.
The following tables contain the estimated losses arising from attempted or actual fraud by staff where the Department’s investigation was completed in the year stated (not including the value of the fraud arising from false employment applications where the loss to the Department is notional).
All fraud: Value of loss (£) DWP total expenditure (£ billion) 2004-05 52,857 118.9
Benefit fraud Other fraud DWP total expenditure (£ billion) 2005-06 83,135 109,895 123.6 2006-07 435,452 72,782 126.7 2007-08 346,527 195,151 133.3 2008-09 301,528 216,149 142.7
While recognising that only a very small number of our staff commit fraud, the Department has a robust approach to the detection, prevention and deterrence of staff fraud consistent with HM Treasury guidance. Where fraud is proven, staff are subject to disciplinary action and, in the case of criminal offences, the Department will normally seek to prosecute, engaging the police where necessary.
The Department has a whistleblowers’ hotline to enable staff to report suspicions of fraud.