“What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to tackle fraud in the welfare system by serious and organised criminal gangs.”
Asked by
Markus Campbell-Savours
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Answer from Hansard
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Western)
The Department works collaboratively with other Departments and with law enforcement agencies on investigations of benefit fraud carried out by organised criminal gangs. New powers in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which was mentioned earlier by the Minister for Employment, will strengthen our ability to tackle organised crime by modernising and enhancing our investigation powers, granting DWP officials powers of search and seizure, and ensuring that those who defraud the public sector face appropriate consequences.