Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress he has made on tackling fraud and error.

Fraud and error is currently estimated to be 2.1% of benefit expenditure, down from 2.2% in 2009/10.

My Department is working hard to reduce Fraud and Error. A number of initiatives have been put in place under the prevent, detect, correct, punish and deter agenda and the introduction of the Single Fraud Investigation Service, tougher penalties, cross Government working and increased recovery powers demonstrate our commitment to getting this right.