Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the level of fraud and error in the social security system.

Fraud and error levels are at their lowest since the pandemic, falling from 4.3% in FYE 2022 to 3.2% (£9.9bn) in 25/26. Thanks to prevention activity, use of data and analytics, and new powers under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act we remain on track to meet the OBR forecast of a 2.8% overpayment rate by 2028-29. This would be the lowest cross-welfare overpayment rate since tax credits began in 2003.