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Tories: Benefit fraud figures 'truly shocking'

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Bill Payments and also in Housing, Local Government
Wednesday 4th November 2009 - 4:53pm

Tories: Benefit fraud figures 'truly shocking' Tories: Benefit fraud figures 'truly shocking'

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The Conservatives tonight described new figures showing that £3 billion in benefit expenditure last year was overpaid because of fraud and error as "truly shocking".

The Department for Work and Pensions said that in the last financial year around 2.2% of total benefit spending was overpaid.

The Department underestimated fraud and error by about £300 million.

Theresa May, shadow work and pensions secretary said: "These are truly shocking figures. The Government has not only failed to get to grips with welfare reform over the past 12 years but they have also allowed benefit fraud out of control.

"Such breath-taking incompetence is unforgivable. At a time when so many people have been forced to rely on the state because of the recession it is simply not fair that others are being allowed to play the system."

A spokesman for the DWP said benefit fraud was half of what it was in 2001, adding: "We have over 3,000 fraud investigators who caught more than 55,000 benefit cheats last year because we are determined to fight fraud in the benefits system."

Comments

Jerry

Commented 13 weeks ago

Politicians complaining about people on the make?

After many years scrutinising the local government in Surrey I can only suggest that the Conservatives try leading by example, by first choosing to respect the law themselves.

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