Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) the number, and (2) the total cost, of fraudulent claims that have been made to the Job Support Scheme.

The Job Support Scheme is designed to protect viable jobs in businesses that are facing lower demand over the winter months due to COVID-19, to help keep their employees attached to the workforce. This scheme will open on 1 November 2020 and will run for six months. The scheme will build on other support schemes announced by the Chancellor and administered by HM Revenue & Customs.

As the scheme is yet to open there is no information held on the number or cost of fraudulent claims made under the scheme. In line with the other payment-out regimes they administer, HMRC will, when the scheme opens, undertake pre-payment authentication and risking to identify and block fraudulent claims. HMRC will also carry out proportionate risk-based, post-payment compliance checks to test the veracity of claims made using the normal compliance tools available.