Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 17
Sixty-Ninth Report - Tackling fraud and corruption against government
Published 8 Sep 2023
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Tackling fraud and corruption against government All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Detecting and pursuing fraudsters and corrupt officials is important for the provision of justice, to provide intelligence on the types of fraud and corruption occurring and to act as a deterrent for others.54 Cabinet Office told us it is the intention of government to step up its enforcement activities, and in a very public and transparent way, to demonstrate to people the consequences of fraud. Under the new Procurement Bill, if passed by Parliament, government can bar people from taking part in public procurement if they have committed fraud. There is also scope to disqualify people as company directors. 46 C&AG’s Report, para 1.23 and 3.10 47 Qq 32, 34, 61 48 C&AG‘s Report, para 26 49 Q 62 50 Q 34 51 www.gov.uk/government/news/new-specialist-fraud-squad-to-help-departments-prevent-fraud-in-public- services 52 Qq 46, 70; C&AG’s Report, para 2.5 53 Qq 71, 82 54 C&AG’s Report, para 3.11 Tackling fraud and corruption against government 15 Cabinet Office explained that these examples, alongside the other sanctions available to government, are part of a plan to create an environment in which people are deterred from committing fraud and the public have confidence in the way government pursues fraudsters.55
From: Public Accounts Committee, Sixty-Ninth Report - Tackling fraud and corruption against government (HC 1230), 8 September 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 18 November 2023 (deadline 8 November 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with most of the Committee's recommendations on tackling fraud and corruption against government, but disagrees with the recommendation for a separate annual strategic intelligence report.
- On a strategic intelligence report, the government disagrees. The PSFA "will not publish a separate strategic intelligence report", and says it will not publish information that could increase the fraud threat by showing how attacks could be executed.
- It will continue to publish annual Fraud Landscape Reports and bulletins. It says separating fraud from error requires determining intent, which is "cost intensive", so this is left to the discretion of individual departments.
- The government agrees the PSFA should update the Committee in 12 months on the outcome of the next Workforce and Performance Review, with a target implementation date of September 2024.
- On a cross-government communications strategy, the government agrees, with a target implementation date of June 2024. A working group "will develop and maintain a cross-government communications plan".