Recommendation 16

PSFA also informed us that it would soon launch its ‘risk, threat and prevention service’, which it wants to provide departments with further support on early risk assessments.50 The Cabinet Office made an announcement on 24 May, shortly after our evidence session, confirming the launch of this new team and that it was starting work immediately.51 PSFA brought to our attention the work of a cross-government ‘tiger team’ of experts, which undertook IFIAs and fraud risk assessments, and provided initial prevention advice on government’s energy schemes.52 HM Treasury told us that some of the lessons learned from government’s experience of administering the COVID-19 schemes have already informed the design of some new initiatives to minimise fraud. For example, government, in its energy schemes, used discounted energy bills, administered by the energy suppliers, to provide support to those in need rather than giving out cash up front.53 Deterrence