Oral Question·Cabinet Office
“What recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of fraud in public procurement during the covid-19 pandemic.”
Tabled: 18 July 2024Answered: 25 July 2024
Asked by
Ben Coleman
Labour — Chelsea and Fulham
Answering Minister
the Minister for the Cabinet Office
Answer from Hansard
The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Georgia Gould)
As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster set out, the previous Government allowed waste and fraud to spiral out of control. Latest estimates show £10.5 billion of estimated fraud and error in the covid-19 schemes. That waste of taxpayers’ money is unacceptable and the new Government are taking action. This week the Chancellor announced that she will appoint a new covid counter-fraud commissioner. It will use every means possible to recoup public money.