Contributions
592 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q I have one further question. In considering the Bill and discussing it with various people and stakeholder groups, the one thing that seems to come through incredibly strongly…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q Alex, I have a final question regarding what you said earlier about the level of fraud you have seen remaining fairly static but you have increased your prevention measures.…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q I am really encouraged by what you said about the engagement you have had with the Department on how we make the Bill workable and supported. I also very much agree with your…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q Finally, Anna, you talked early on about the importance of everybody being treated fairly, and I absolutely agree. Would you accept that one of the principal drivers for us…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you both for joining us today. I have an overarching question about the impact of the proposed modernisation of DWP processes and whether you think that that will improve…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q I have one follow-up question to each of you separately, if that is okay. Joshua, you mentioned the challenge that we have at the moment in detecting capital fraud and our…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. Richard, you made a point around the existing powers that HMRC has had, since I think 2011, to request information on every interest-bearing bank account in the…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Just for clarification, is there an independent oversight mechanism in place for the use of those powers? Richard Las: I do not know, if I am honest, whether there is. I can…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Following on from one of my colleagues’ earlier questions, can I come back to the Bill’s ability to clamp down on and look at error? Would it be your view that in addition to…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q One more, if I may, Chair? Richard, one of the powers we intend to take is around search and seizure for the DWP when investigating serious and organised crime. That is a power…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q I have a very general question to open with. You will be more aware than I am of the changing nature of fraud and the increasing sophistication that we see from perpetrators. Do…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for joining us today, and for the engagement that we have had so far; it has been incredibly helpful and you have my assurance that it will continue. I would like to…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you. I am hopeful that, through the informal conversations and the formal consultation that we are required to have on the code of practice, we will be able to set this up…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q We are looking to set a limit so the DWP would be able to deduct a maximum of 40% of an individual’s total capital as a lump sum. Would that satisfy you, or would you like us to…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Your last point about stop and search and decisions being made purely based on protected characteristics speaks to what you said earlier about the perceived impact on disabled…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Would that be the case in any preventive measure that we took in pursuit of tackling benefit fraud that did not come about as a direct result of suspicion of fraud? With…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q What is your view on its proportionality as a direct response to what has been a £35 billion challenge for the Department since covid? Given the increase in prevalence of both…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q That was since the pandemic. The overall figure is £35 billion, and last year it was £9.7 billion. Ellen Lefley: I am grateful. It is a difficult one. For example, we could have…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q I suspect Minister Gould will have the bulk of the questions for you, Mark, but I have a very general question. There has, understandably, been a lot of discussion and questions…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for joining us. I have a couple of initial questions. You have neatly set out your position that there is no circumstance in which you would support the eligibility…25 Feb 2025