Why new Treasury rules on estimating fraud and error could help drive savings
07 Feb Fraud, Error Debt & Grants

Why new Treasury rules on estimating fraud and error could help drive savings

New Treasury guidance requires that departments report on the total level of loss across their programmes. Here's why it matters and how the NAO can help
by Joshua Reddaway
HMRC loses £47m in ‘organised crime’ attack on customer accounts
05 Jun Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC loses £47m in ‘organised crime’ attack on customer accounts
DWP taskforce hits £1bn savings milestone by spotting overpayments
27 May Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP taskforce hits £1bn savings milestone by spotting overpayments
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
19 May Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
15 Mar 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
Ex-minister says entire board of British Business Bank should be sacked for Bounce Back Loan failings
Covid public inquiry hearings ‘will not begin until 2023 at the earliest’
11 Mar 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Covid public inquiry hearings ‘will not begin until 2023 at the earliest’
Revelation comes as inquiry chair puts draft terms of reference out to consultation
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
10 Mar 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
Department a “Dad’s Army operation” when it came to keeping criminals away from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, says Agnew
HMRC looks ‘soft on fraud’ over billions of lost Covid support, MPs warn
11 Feb 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC looks ‘soft on fraud’ over billions of lost Covid support, MPs warn
Public Accounts Committee blasts lack of ambition as department expects to write off “at least £4bn” in furlough and SEISS payments
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire Exclusive
03 Feb 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
A matter of tax: HMRC's Angela MacDonald on hubs, fraud and why she'd never leave Yorkshire
Second perm sec Angela MacDonald reflects on HMRC's role in the Covid response and EU transition, and what its massive office rationalisation programme means for levelling up
Tension grows between Treasury and No.10 over blame for pandemic fraud
27 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Tension grows between Treasury and No.10 over blame for pandemic fraud
Chancellor denies "ignoring" billions in fraud after minister quits over failure to tackle the problem
HMRC expects to recoup only a quarter of £6bn lost to Covid fraud and error
18 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC expects to recoup only a quarter of £6bn lost to Covid fraud and error
Department revises down estimate of taxpayers’ money it could get back by March 2023
CMA chief exec announces plan to step down
10 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
CMA chief exec announces plan to step down
Andrea Coscelli will leave regulator at the end of July after six years as CEO
'The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel': Gareth Davies on the NAO's Covid scrutiny and trials of remote work
03 Jan 2022 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
'The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel': Gareth Davies on the NAO's Covid scrutiny and trials of remote work
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The National Audit Office boss tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
Jim Harra: ‘Balancing HMRC’s priorities in 2021 felt like a high wire act’
29 Dec 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Jim Harra: ‘Balancing HMRC’s priorities in 2021 felt like a high wire act’
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The HMRC chief exec tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid as well as new challenges
National Crime Agency offers £223k for next DG
12 Dec 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
National Crime Agency offers £223k for next DG
Law-enforcement body launches recruitment drive for permanent successor to Lynne Owens
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
03 Dec 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
Most measures were introduced "too late" to stop fraud, with focus on prevention
HMRC struggles to recover billions in overpaid Covid-19 support and tax debts
22 Nov 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC struggles to recover billions in overpaid Covid-19 support and tax debts
Taskforce likely to recover minority of support paid in error and fraud as NAO says department needs to increase its debt recovery capacity
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
05 Nov 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
But department’s annual report estimates fraud in Covid support schemes topped £6bn in 2020-21
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
02 Nov 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
Chancellor defends £37bn spent on test and trace scheme and cost of furlough fraud
‘The vast majority have been thwarted’: minister praises DWP's fraud response
25 Aug 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
‘The vast majority have been thwarted’: minister praises DWP's fraud response
Will Quince claims Universal Credit system has ‘coped remarkably well: with challenges
NAO sounds alarm over DWP’s ‘record high’ fraud and error rates
20 Jul 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
NAO sounds alarm over DWP’s ‘record high’ fraud and error rates
Watchdog says department accepts pandemic response means overpayments will “remain significantly higher than normal for some time”
DWP 'stopped large attack' from organised crime during Universal Credit surge
14 Jul 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP 'stopped large attack' from organised crime during Universal Credit surge
As the department processed 4.3 million new claims, fraudsters attempted to cash in
Fraud and error in Covid support schemes 'will cost taxpayer tens of billions'
30 Jun 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Fraud and error in Covid support schemes 'will cost taxpayer tens of billions'
Departments' efforts to detect fraud 'hindered by a lack of real-time data sharing and weak transparency arrangements', MPs say
Acoba chief Pickles sets out proposals for beefed-up scrutiny of post-government jobs
26 Feb 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Acoba chief Pickles sets out proposals for beefed-up scrutiny of post-government jobs
Boosted transparency and spectre of honours impact form part of anti-corruption watchdog’s drive
HMRC offers £100k for new Fraud Investigation Service post
10 Feb 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC offers £100k for new Fraud Investigation Service post
Head of operations will oversee modernisation of capabilities to tackle serious fraud
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
03 Feb 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
Executive Office spad numbers will be cut to six, salaries capped at £90k and advisers subject to the same disciplinary rules as civil servants
HMRC 'could have done more' to prevent furlough fraud, NAO says
26 Oct 2020 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
HMRC 'could have done more' to prevent furlough fraud, NAO says
Watchdog also urges tax agency to ensure fewer people miss out on support under future schemes
Companies House unveils clampdown on identity fraud among reforms
21 Sep 2020 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Companies House unveils clampdown on identity fraud among reforms
BEIS executive agency to bar appointment of directors until verification checks are performed