The government launched the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) in 2022, and a key principle was that it should be expert-led. The PSFA is developing the capability of public servants in dealing with fraud through the Government Counter Fraud Profession. The standards and guidance that the Function creates, led from the PSFA, must be used in central government, and can be used more widely in the public sector and beyond. Since its inception in 2018, GCFP membership has expanded to over 7000 members beyond central government, including policing and local government.<\/p>
<\/p>
The government is proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud in the system and has invested an extra £1bn in tackling fraud and error since Autumn 2021 across government. This included £24.7m funding over three years to support the creation of the PSFA, building on lessons learned in the management of fraud risk and loss in the pandemic.<\/p>
<\/p>
The PSFA regularly engages with Cabinet Office and HMT Ministers and Parliament, via the Public Accounts Committee, on its work and progress against its published mandate. In addition, the PSFA further engages with, and reports to, the National Audit Office.<\/p>
In order to maintain its commitment to transparency, the PSFA publishes annual plans and annual reports. Last year the PSFA updated Parliament through a Written Ministerial Statement and by depositing a copy of the 2022-2023 Annual Report in the Library of both Houses.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4284", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Neville-Rolfe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-02-20T13:06:12.927Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Sector: Fraud"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to increase funding and resource to the Counter Fraud Profession and counter-fraud function to fight fraud (1) against His Majesty's Government, and (2) in the wider public sector.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4988", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Kempsell"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Kempsell"} ], "uin" : "HL2245"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1505661", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1505661/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
From 5th<\/sup> October 2020 customers applying for visas from outside the UK who choose to make contact by e-mail will be charged £2.74 per e-mail. This includes the initial e-mail enquiry plus any follow-up e-mails to and from the contact centre relating to the same enquiry. E-mails are sent via a web message form on www.gov.uk.<\/p> Customers calling UKVI from outside the UK will be charged 69p per minute (plus their local network charge).<\/p> These charges were reduced by 50% against the previous charges (£1.37 per minute for calls and £5.48 per email enquiry).<\/p> <\/p> The previous charges were reviewed in 2020. As part of that review, operational commercial improvement opportunities were identified, enabling the charges to be reduced.<\/p> <\/p> The supplier of UKVI\u2019s international email and telephony services and in country telephony services changed from Sitel, to Teleperformance during a handover period between 31st<\/sup> March 2021 and 28 April 2021.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4888", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Sharpe of Epsom"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL2247"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-09-21T08:59:34.617Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Office: Email"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 26 July (HL1712), why the cost of an email enquiry via SITEL UK changed from £5.48 per email between March 2017 and April 2021, to £2.74 per email since May 2021.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3687", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Rosser"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Rosser"}
], "uin" : "HL2245"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1348914", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1348914/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support which is available to tenants.<\/p> We have extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit until the end of September helping renters to continue paying their rent. Local housing allowance rates have been maintained at their increased level in cash terms in 2021/22, meaning claimants renting in the private rented sector continue to benefit from the significant increase in the local housing allowance rates applied in April 2020. For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. For 2021-22 the Government has made £140 million available in DHP funding, building on the £180 million provided last year.<\/p> Renters will continue to benefit from longer notice periods, giving them more time to make alternative arrangements. As of 1 June, until at least 30 September, notice periods will be at least 4 months except in the most egregious cases.<\/p> We are also providing local authorities with £310\u202fmillion through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This funding represents a £47 million increase on the previous year\u2019s funding and can be used to offer financial support\u202ffor\u202fpeople\u202fto\u202ffind a new home,\u202fto work\u202fwith landlords to prevent evictions, and to ensure families\u202fhave\u202fa roof over their head.<\/p> We do not wish to encourage more debt and have prioritised non-repayable support. We believe the best way to support people in need is through the existing welfare system, and this is what our extensive package of economic support is doing.<\/p> We continue to monitor the effectiveness of other examples of support, such as those from the devolved administrations in the UK, and note that uptake for loan support has been relatively low in Scotland and Wales.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4877", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Greenhalgh"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-07-29T11:08:11.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Homelessness"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a system of (1) means-tested grants, or (2) interest-free loans, to repay arrears in order to prevent an increase in homelessness.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
], "uin" : "HL2245"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1182922", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1182922/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In February the department published labour market projections for the period to 2027. The published report and results outline the future shape and size of the labour market and employment prospects by industry, occupation, qualification level, gender and employment status. The report is attached and is also available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/labour-market-and-skills-projections-2017-to-2027<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>