Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
We asked whether counter fraud expertise is adequately deployed across the rest of government.
Conclusion
We asked whether counter fraud expertise is adequately deployed across the rest of government. Cabinet Office provided information on where counter fraud expertise is deployed across the rest of government but it is clear that some of the major departments have relatively few counter fraud resources.36 Cabinet Office told us that because the Counter Fraud Profession does not have a structure to assess people individually, it is “not yet able to give a view” on whether the capabilities are all in the right place. However, it is “confident” that the Counter Fraud Function is developing the structures to show where the different types of counter fraud capability are.37
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5: PAC conclusion: HM Treasury and Cabinet Office do not know whether departments are adequately resourced to tackle fraud and error. 5: PAC recommendation: HM Treasury and Cabinet Office should write to the Committee within three months setting out how they will work with departments to build their counter fraud capacity and ensure that each Department’s resourcing is properly aligned with its risk exposure. 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: November 2021 5.2 The government will write to the Committee in November 2021 setting out how it will be working with departments and across the system to help build their counter fraud capacity and capability. This will involve working closely with the Government Counter Fraud Profession, who set standards for professionals, and evaluate their knowledge, skills and experience to inform our understanding of capacity specific to relevant disciplines (fraud, risk, investigation, intelligence, measurement etc.) 5.3 However, accounting officers decide whether their capacity is commensurate with their risks. Accounting officers and senior responsible owners own and manage scheme risks and as such are responsible for understanding and minimising them. They should prioritise their resources according to their risks and take decisions on the right level of capacity and control. 5.4 The Spending Review process provides departments with the opportunity to assess their individual fraud capacity and resourcing levels. Departments have the opportunity to submit bids to obtain the right counter fraud tools and resources. Bids will be subject to HM Treasury scrutiny, and HM Treasury encourages departments to work closely with the Counter Fraud Function to assess their individual capacity and capability before any bids are submitted to HM Treasury. 5.5 Following the Spending Review 2021, HM Treasury and the Counter Fraud Function will review the counter fraud capacity in departments and arms-length bodies (ALBs) and the outcomes that this delivers. This will be overseen by the Fraud Ministerial Board. 11