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<p>Our Covid-19 interventions helped millions of people and businesses through the
worst effects of the pandemic. The Government prioritised getting money to those who
needed it, with the schemes designed to minimise fraud while not unnecessarily delaying
payments.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has created the Public Sector Fraud Authority
(PSFA), with £24.7 million of new funding in the current SR period to support public
bodies and departments to better understand and reduce the impact of fraud.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government also invested over £100 million over two years in the Taxpayer
Protection Taskforce to combat fraud in the HMRC support schemes. Up to the end of
September, HMRC has recovered overpayments or prevented payments being made of claims
worth over £1.6 billion. HMRC is still committed to the recovery of Covid-19 support
scheme error and fraud.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also committed to bearing
down on fraud in the Covid Loan Schemes. £13.2 million has been allocated to the National
Investigation Service over three years to double their investigative capacity on Bounce
Back Loans and fund enforcement activity. £10.9 million has been allocated to the
British Business Bank over three years to boost their counter fraud and assurance
programme.</p><p> </p>
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