Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all allegations of benefit fraud received are investigated properly.

The Department ensures that all allegations of benefit fraud are considered and a decision made on the most appropriate course of action. The referral management and investigation of benefit fraud process is robust and greatest of care is taken to corroborate the information to ensure we are directing our resources appropriately.

Quality checks are undertaken and where appropriate case conferences are undertaken to ensure every case progresses in a timely manner and the correct action is taken. If an investigation concludes the alleged fraud is unsubstantiated the investigation is closed with no further action. This can occur at any stage of the investigation and judgement of this is on a case by case basis and influenced only on the basis of established facts, gathered through these processes. The decision to prosecute is made by the Crown Prosecution Service or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland.