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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."
Jerry
Commented 117 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.