Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
HM Treasury told us it has ongoing dialogue with departments and supports the funding of...
Conclusion
HM Treasury told us it has ongoing dialogue with departments and supports the funding of counter fraud activity if it is cost effective. We asked HM Treasury why it took 12 months to approve the £100 million funding for a Taxpayer Protection Taskforce within HMRC. HM Treasury told us it wanted to see the assessment of the potential benefits that should accrue, and to be assured that the money is going to be directed in the right place, though was keen to assure us that throughout the 12 months there was “active discussion” around the funding required. HMRC told us it did not wait until March 2021 to deploy counter fraud and error resources on CJRS and SEISS, but the additional investment enabled it to open a further 20,000 one-to-one investigations on top of the 10,000 that it had already opened, as well as more criminal investigations.38
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
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.