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1698887

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 4.58 of the Office for Budget Responsibility publication entitled Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published in March 2024, whether he has made an estimate of future trends in the level of fraud in Universal Credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester West
	tabling member printed	Liz Kendall
	uin	20606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>DWP produces forecasts of overpayments in the benefit system as part of its forecasts for benefit expenditure. These are reviewed and agreed by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which uses them as part of its fiscal forecasting and to evaluate policy costings.</p><p> </p><p>As per our commitment published in the Treasury Minutes, <a href="https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43758/documents/217144/default/" target="_blank">CP 1029 – Treasury Minutes – Government Response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Eightieth report from Session 2022-23 and the First to the Sixth reports from Session 2023-24 (parliament.uk)</a>, we will set out our forecast in the Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 23/24, expected to be published later this year.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 15/04/2024 14:23:30 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4026 label Biography information for Liz Kendall

1682874

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the 18% of Universal Credit claims which contain an element of fraud.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	10109
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>The 18% figure shown in Table 12 of the estimates on Fraud and Error in the benefit system during the financial year 2022 to 2023 is based on a randomly selected sample of UC claims. More detail on the causes of fraud and error in Universal Credit can also be found in Tables 3 and 4 of those statistics.</p><p> </p><p>The full estimates for fraud and error in the benefit system for 2022/2023, including the relevant tables, can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2022-to-2023-estimates" target="_blank">Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2022 to 2023 estimates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 22/01/2024 16:20:08 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1660574

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length was of investigations undertaken by his Department's serious fraud team into cases relating to Universal Credit in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	199483
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>We cannot break down the average length of investigations as this information is not recorded by our Economic Serious Organised Crime team (ESOC).</p><p> </p><p>DWP investigators seek to expedite all investigations as quickly as possible whilst ensuring they meet prosecution standards.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 199503 question first answered 19/09/2023 15:17:04 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1642631

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2023 to Question 186405 on Universal Credit: Fraud, whether he plans to publish the equalities assessment of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	188292
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2023 answer text <p>The DWP will not publish the equalities assessment (EA). Providing specific information contained within our EA would enable fraudsters to understand our services and the way our IT systems work, leading to new frauds and greater losses to the public purse.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 12/06/2023 11:00:59 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1639870

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to publish details of the (a) nature and (b) operation of the machine learning algorithms used in trials to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	186407
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The DWP’s Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service uses data and analytics to identify claims that may warrant closer inspection (or may need additional consideration), assisting in the prevention and detection of fraud and error. It is right that we keep up with fraud in today’s digital age, so that we can prevent, detect and deter those who would try to exploit the benefit system and more importantly, improve our support for genuine claimants.</p><p> </p><p>However, we currently have no plans to publish details of either the (a) nature or (b) operation of the machine learning algorithms used in trials to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances. Similarly, we also have no plans to publish the results of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances. It is not in the public interest to publish, as it contains information that fraudulent actors could use to defraud the benefit system and impact the public purse adversely.</p><p> </p><p>We have conducted an equalities assessment of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.</p><p> </p><p>The department has robust processes to ensure ethical use and impact of data is considered, which includes Equality Impact Assessments for large-scale transformative initiatives that involve personal data, aligned with data-ethics frameworks, codes of practice, and working principles for analytical communities within the department that work with personal data.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP’s Personal Information Charter (PIC) ensures that its customers are aware of the DWP’s use of Artificial Intelligence.</p><p> </p><p>Importantly, it should be noted that we do not use algorithms to make decisions regarding fraudulent claims. These are always made by humans.</p><p> </p><p>The Information Commissioner’s Office have indicated publicly that they are broadly supportive of the current use of AI within the welfare benefit system, based on sampling they have undertaken.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 186405 186406 question first answered 05/06/2023 11:12:16 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1639869

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to publish the results of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	186406
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The DWP’s Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service uses data and analytics to identify claims that may warrant closer inspection (or may need additional consideration), assisting in the prevention and detection of fraud and error. It is right that we keep up with fraud in today’s digital age, so that we can prevent, detect and deter those who would try to exploit the benefit system and more importantly, improve our support for genuine claimants.</p><p> </p><p>However, we currently have no plans to publish details of either the (a) nature or (b) operation of the machine learning algorithms used in trials to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances. Similarly, we also have no plans to publish the results of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances. It is not in the public interest to publish, as it contains information that fraudulent actors could use to defraud the benefit system and impact the public purse adversely.</p><p> </p><p>We have conducted an equalities assessment of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.</p><p> </p><p>The department has robust processes to ensure ethical use and impact of data is considered, which includes Equality Impact Assessments for large-scale transformative initiatives that involve personal data, aligned with data-ethics frameworks, codes of practice, and working principles for analytical communities within the department that work with personal data.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP’s Personal Information Charter (PIC) ensures that its customers are aware of the DWP’s use of Artificial Intelligence.</p><p> </p><p>Importantly, it should be noted that we do not use algorithms to make decisions regarding fraudulent claims. These are always made by humans.</p><p> </p><p>The Information Commissioner’s Office have indicated publicly that they are broadly supportive of the current use of AI within the welfare benefit system, based on sampling they have undertaken.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 186405 186407 question first answered 05/06/2023 11:12:15 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1639868

	registered interest
	date	23/05/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has conducted an equalities impact assessment of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	186405
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The DWP’s Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service uses data and analytics to identify claims that may warrant closer inspection (or may need additional consideration), assisting in the prevention and detection of fraud and error. It is right that we keep up with fraud in today’s digital age, so that we can prevent, detect and deter those who would try to exploit the benefit system and more importantly, improve our support for genuine claimants.</p><p> </p><p>However, we currently have no plans to publish details of either the (a) nature or (b) operation of the machine learning algorithms used in trials to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances. Similarly, we also have no plans to publish the results of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances. It is not in the public interest to publish, as it contains information that fraudulent actors could use to defraud the benefit system and impact the public purse adversely.</p><p> </p><p>We have conducted an equalities assessment of trials using machine learning algorithms to detect fraud in claims for Universal Credit advances.</p><p> </p><p>The department has robust processes to ensure ethical use and impact of data is considered, which includes Equality Impact Assessments for large-scale transformative initiatives that involve personal data, aligned with data-ethics frameworks, codes of practice, and working principles for analytical communities within the department that work with personal data.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP’s Personal Information Charter (PIC) ensures that its customers are aware of the DWP’s use of Artificial Intelligence.</p><p> </p><p>Importantly, it should be noted that we do not use algorithms to make decisions regarding fraudulent claims. These are always made by humans.</p><p> </p><p>The Information Commissioner’s Office have indicated publicly that they are broadly supportive of the current use of AI within the welfare benefit system, based on sampling they have undertaken.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 186406 186407 question first answered 05/06/2023 11:12:15 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1538662

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much in total his Department has spent on the Enhanced Checking Service since April 2020; and how much in total his Department has recovered in fraudulently claimed welfare benefits as a result of the Enhanced Checking Service.
	tabling member constituency	Canterbury
	tabling member printed	Rosie Duffield
	uin	77540
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/11/2022 answer text <p>The Enhanced Checking Service (ECS) was introduced in April 2020 to support Universal Credit colleagues who were observing potentially fraudulent claims from people looking to exploit the easements implemented to support customers during the Covid pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>ECS now operates as part of DWP’s Counter Fraud, Compliance &amp; Debt (CFCD) ‘Disrupt’ function, whose workload is primarily driven by potential threats identified by DWP’s Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service.</p><p> </p><p>ECS costs cannot be separated from the costs of the wider Disrupt teams, which in 2021/22 (the last full year for which data is available) were £19.7 million. This figure includes staffing, management, and training costs.</p><p> </p><p>No cost information is available in relation to the ECS team for the 2020/21 financial year. This is because ECS funding was part of the wider CFCD budget during this period and cannot be meaningfully separated out.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst recovery of benefit overpayments resulting from fraud cannot be attributed to the work of individual teams, I can confirm that in 2021/22, our Disrupt teams actioned 485,000 cases, with an estimated saving of £671 million in potential losses through fraud.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 07/11/2022 15:32:14 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4616 label Biography information for Rosie Duffield

1462960

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether private sector data sets are used in the Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service (IRIS) or Analysis and Intelligence Hub for detecting Universal Credit fraud and error.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	2319
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>DWP does make use of commercially available data sets on specific initiatives to prevent and detect fraud and error.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 24/05/2022 16:48:17 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor

1462962

	registered interest
	date	16/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether algorithms are used in her Department's integrated Risk and Intelligence Service (IRIS) or Analysis and Intelligence Hub to model or predict Universal Credit claimant's risk of fraud and error; and whether those algorithms are used to decide which claimants are investigated further.
	tabling member constituency	Edmonton
	tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
	uin	2321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>DWP’s Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service (IRIS) is developing the use of algorithms to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud in Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Any risk of fraud or error identified is reviewed by a trained member of staff and this is only one of a number of verification steps which will have to be cleared before an investigation is begun or before a claim is paid.</p><p> </p><p>A decision to investigate a claimant is always made by a case handler who would take into account all relevant facts and circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 24/05/2022 14:03:43 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor