Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill

Shaun Davies Excerpts

2nd reading
Monday 3rd February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Liz Kendall]

One of the new measures introduced by the Bill, the eligibility verification measure, explicitly excludes the state pension. I reassure the hon. Lady on that point.

[Shaun Davies (Telford) (Lab)]

In places like Telford, it is a basic principle that people pay into the system and then take out of the system, or their neighbours do, when they are in need. The companies and individuals that are defrauding national benefits are often also defrauding local authority benefits and schemes. Will we extend these powers so that local government is able to work with national Government to pursue this fraud?

[Liz Kendall]

I reassure my hon. Friend that local authorities will be able to put examples to the Public Sector Fraud Authority for scrutiny. The new powers introduced by the Bill will enable the PSFA to crack down on precisely those issues.