Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State Work and Pensions, which Government Department has responsibility for the National Fraud Initiative.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a series of changes to the Machinery of Government on 22 July. This included the Public Sector Fraud Authority’s (PSFA) transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - whilst retaining its sponsorship by HM Treasury. The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is part of the PSFA’s Data Analytics Service.

The Cabinet Office still maintains responsibility for the NFI - and the powers underpinning the NFI in the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 can continue to be exercised on behalf of the Minister for the Cabinet Office - until those powers are transferred or amended as part of the machinery of government. Under the Ministers of Crown Act 1975, a Transfer of Functions Order (TFO) may be made where there is legislation that requires amendment to ensure a relevant Minister taking over the functions, as well as any related powers, in that legislation can properly exercise them.

The functions and operations of the NFI continue as normal - supporting over 1,000 public and private sector organisations in enhancing their fraud response through the use of data and analytics.