Contributions
511 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWomen and Girls: Afghanistan7. What steps his Department is taking to support women and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.25 Feb 2025HANSARDWomen and Girls: AfghanistanThe cruelty and inhumanity of the Taliban should appal us all, and no doubt we all condemn the ban on medical training. The UK has provided significant aid to Afghanistan to…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)In the same vein, I am a member of Plymouth city council.25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q I will come in briefly, because I am conscious of the time. I was interested in what Professor Button was talking about—encouraging people to commit fraud, and the rise of…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q We just heard that serious organised fraud is considered to be only 10% of what is taken from the Department at the moment. Do you think that the measures to give DWP…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q I am particularly interested in the work that the NHS serious fraud team is already doing. What specific challenges do you currently face in investigating fraud and recovering…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q If you have been in the room, you will have heard a lot about the code of practice already. The Bill requires the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament a code of practice…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q Who should be consulted about putting together that code of conduct, or code of practice? Should the detail and the code of practice be included in the Bill? Anna Hall: We can…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (First sitting)Q This question is on a slightly different tack. One of the powers in the Bill would disqualify a debtor from holding a driving licence. Is that likely to be an effective tool in…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q 51 This question is for you, Joshua. As you no doubt know, the Bill will allow the Public Sector Fraud Authority to be established as a separate body from the Cabinet Office. Do…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Having a separate organisation? Joshua Reddaway: Having a separate body.25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Do you have an opinion on that? Joshua Reddaway: I do not have a major opinion. I would ask whether you are comfortable with the oversight arrangements. One thing to point out…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q How far do you think the increased time limit that would be in place for investigating fraud related to the covid-19 schemes will improve recovery rates? That is a slightly…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)That would be great. Joshua Reddaway: First, we should be clear: with most fraud, once the payment has gone, you are not going to get it back. I have a professional next to me who…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Based on your experience and the work that you are already doing with the PSFA, are there any gaps in the Bill? Is there anything that you think is not there that would help us…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Given what you just said about the nature of the data that is already collected, could we avoid the fraud in the first place by sharing a lot of that information? If…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Interestingly, one of the previous witnesses talked about powers that other countries have but we do not, which potentially would do exactly what you have just described. Are…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q We see that there has been a lack of robust assessment of business costs so far. The Government have been unable to say what the cost to the banks will be. Do you have any…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q I will ask one question in a second, but I wanted to come back on the point that my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire made about the code of…25 Feb 2025HANSARDPublic Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you, Chair, and thank you, gentlemen. We have heard quite a lot of concerns already this afternoon about the potential disproportionate impact on disabled people. It would…25 Feb 2025