Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 6.18 of the budget 2017, what the sources are of the data which the Government will invest in the better use of in order to ensure that fraudulent and error related payments are reduced.

HMRC’s Real Time Information system collects PAYE information for wages and tax approved pension schemes.

The Autumn Budget 2017 provides funding so that Local Authorities (LAs) can continue to take part in the Tackling Earnings and Employment Fraud & Error Scheme which has been running since 2015/16. The scheme supports LAs who use Real Time Information to identify fraud and error.

Funding will increasingly allow LAs to action automated Real Time Information earnings alerts in real time.

Automated Real Time Information alerts will in addition be rolled out to Carer’s Allowance in 2018.