Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Government’s digital and counter-fraud experts know what government needs to do to make fraud and...
Recommendation
Government’s digital and counter-fraud experts know what government needs to do to make fraud and error savings through data analytics, but do not have a robust plan to support public bodies to do so. There are several barriers preventing the wider use of data analytics to fight fraud and error across government, including: the continued use of legacy systems; poor quality data; difficulties in sharing data; and a lack of digital skills in central government. However, while government knows what the barriers are, it lacks a detailed action plan to address them. DSIT published its delayed Roadmap for modern digital government in January 2026. 3 While this strategy sets out the government’s ambition to embrace AI and replace legacy IT systems, it contains little detail on how and when this will be done and nothing on how this will help tackle fraud and error losses or what DSIT’s responsibilities will be in this area. recommendation The Government Digital Service, Public Sector Fraud Authority and Government Finance Function should set out how they will work together to deliver the reduction in fraud losses that data analytics can achieve, with clear targets and milestones. This should include how government intends to move from a system of detecting and recovering fraud, to one more focused on preventing fraud in the first place.
Government Response
Response Pending
HM Government
Response Pending
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. (GFF) recognises the value in working together to deliver a reduction in fraud losses through data analytics. To deliver this, and building on existing well-established working relationships, GDS, PSFA and GFF will establish a co-led counter fraud data analytics action forum to agree, publish and deliver, an overarching plan that more effectively utilises data analytics to tackle fraud and error. This will be composed of annual delivery plans and split across the remainder of the spending review period and align with the wider strategic vision set out in the government’s roadmap for a modern digital government, the Government Counter Fraud Functional Strategy and Shared Services Strategy for Government. As part of this plan, the government will explore cases for deployment of AI to drive counter fraud detection and prevention, the integration of counter fraud controls into the NOVA platform and opportunities to expand the ability to share data across government for the purposes of tackling fraud.