Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of covid-19 support scheme-related fraud by NUTS1 region.

The Government has provided around £400 billion of direct support for the economy since the start of the pandemic, which has helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK.

This package has included a wide range of different COVID-19 support schemes for businesses, delivered by a variety of Government departments, either directly, via their arms-length bodies, or via local authorities.

Departments are required to disclose details of material fraud, evasion and error within their annual report and accounts. From 2021-22, departments must provide an evidenced estimate of the level of fraud and error specifically in respect of the COVID-19 related schemes they administer and the level of debt as a result of that fraud and error.  There is currently no requirement to break down this data by region and therefore it is not possible to provide an estimate of covid-19 support scheme-related fraud by NUTS1 region.