Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 147W, on Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce, for what reasons the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce has been reconstituted; what the terms of reference and mandate for the new taskforce are; what the membership of that taskforce is; and when the minutes of the reconstituted taskforce will be made available.

Mr Francis Maude

Before 2010 there was no coordinated action to tackle fraud, error and debt across Government despite the significant losses to the Exchequer. In 2011 alone the Annual Fraud Indicator estimated Government annual losses from fraud and error were over £30bn. It is also estimated that between £7bn and £8bn per annum is lost through debts owed to Government not being pursued.

This Government established the first cross-departmental taskforce to address this issue after the last General Election. In 2012-13 the Fraud, Error and Debt Taskforce reported savings and improved performance in detecting and preventing fraud and error of £6.5bn, and is overseeing initiatives to improve debt collection. Despite this progress we know there’s much more to do. The reconstituted taskforce is chaired jointly by the Cabinet Secretary and myself, and attended by senior Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, supported by industry sector experts, to ensure there is full alignment towards further reducing fraud and error losses and improving debt collection in benefits and tax credits.

As was the case under previous administrations, minutes of internal meetings are not usually disclosed.