Recommendation 13

We asked HM Treasury and Cabinet Office about the capability and capacity of counter fraud resources across the public sector. Cabinet Office explained that traditionally Departments have decided individually what level of capability they need, but as fraud is a quickly evolving and complex crime this approach is not optimal.33 Cabinet Office told us that there are currently 16,000 members of the Counter Fraud Function, and 91% of these individuals work for HMRC and DWP on tax and welfare as these are government’s highest 28 Q 17 29 Letter from Mark Cheeseman page 3 30 Q 72; Letter from Mark Cheeseman page 2 31 C&AG’s Guide, page 4 32 C&AG Guide, page 5 33 Q 31 Fraud and Error 13 areas of known loss. The Government Counter Fraud Profession has 6,823 members from 42 organisations across central and local government and policing.34 Cabinet Office told us that 77% of these professionals work in DWP or HMRC.35