Asked by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to recover public funds lost through fraud, misconduct and the improper award of public contracts; and how much has been recovered in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This government is taking the strongest action against fraudsters that seek to take advantage of the public sector.
That’s why the government introduced the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act in December 2026 - giving us more tools to combat fraud, recover public money and allow the government to investigate fraud. The Procurement Act also takes tougher action on fraud and corruption against public contracts, excluding suppliers which have fallen foul of the fraud exclusion ground and pose particular risks.
Taking action against fraud and error has an impact. In 2024-25, the Government Counter Fraud Function delivered counter fraud and error savings of £7.53bn. This includes not only fraud and error recoveries, but also savings in prevented fraud and error. The Public Sector Fraud Authority’s Cross-Government Fraud Landscape Reports sets out where departments (except HMRC and DWP, which publish their own figures independently) have taken action to prevent and recover fraud and error.
Asked by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is his planned timetable for the publication of the triennial report into the operation of the Honours and Memorialisation secretariats.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
The next report into the operation of the UK Honours System is expected in due course.
Asked by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to ask the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to review the range of honours awarded.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds
Every five years, a review is carried out of how honours are distributed across the different categories of activity in UK life and is reviewed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) before it is sent to The Sovereign for approval. This Quinquennial Review is guided both by priorities set by the Prime Minister and also changes to the population and sizes of workforces in each sector of the economy.
The most recent Quinquennial Review set out recommendations for the period of the Birthday Honours 2023 List to the Birthday Honours 2028 List (inclusive). The next review period will begin in 2026/27 for implementation in the New Year Honours 2029 List. The scope of this review has not yet been agreed but will be approved by the HD Committee in due course.