Recommendation 26

The Cabinet Office told us that the Counter Fraud Function is aiming to introduce a minimum standard for fraud risk assessments across government.74 But it is also still working to increase awareness of the Counter Fraud Function.75 For example, consultation with the Function’s central team of experts is at the discretion of each department, though Cabinet Office recognised some departments will be able to draw on their own internal counter fraud expertise.76 BEIS told us that despite the increased risk of fraud and error compared to its usual operations it did not consult the Function when designing the Bounce Back Loan Scheme. However BEIS did not think any additional counter fraud expertise or analysis would have changed its position given Ministers had already made the decision to tolerate the increased risk to ensure speedy delivery.77