Question

To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, what assessment he has made of the level of fraud in the NHS; and what recent discussions he has had with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on tackling such fraud.

The most recent estimate of NHS fraud, covering 2016-17, was published by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority in 2018. This estimated that the loss to the NHS through fraud, bribery and corruption was £1.29 billion.

The principal role of the Public Accounts Commission is to examine the Estimate of the National Audit Office (NAO) and to consider reports from the appointed auditor of the NAO. The Commission does not involve itself in the operational matters of government.