Training: Fraud
(asked on 11th April 2016) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many training providers were investigated for fraud or misappropriation of Skills Funding Agency funding during (1) 2011–12, (2) 2012–13, and (3) 2013–14; in how many cases there was a case to answer; and in those cases where findings of fraud or misappropriation were confirmed, which training providers were concerned.
Investigations will result either in no funding issues being identified or the identification of funds for recovery. Funds identified for recovery may have been mis-claimed in error or may be the result of potential fraudulent actions. The Skills Funding Agency is not a prosecuting authority so where an investigation indicates potential fraud the case is referred to the police. Fraud is not confirmed unless there is a successful criminal prosecution.
The table below shows the number of cases investigated, the number of cases where funds were identified for recovery (whether as a result of error or potential fraud), the number of cases referred to the police, the number of cases resulting in charges being brought and the outcome of prosecutions in each of the financial years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. Note that where a case is referred to the police it may take a significant period (up to several years) for charges to be brought.
Financial Year | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
No. of live investigations during the year | 43 | 34 | 37 |
No. of cases where funds were identified for recovery | 20 | 6 | 9 |
No. of cases referred to the police | 6 | 0 | 1 |
No. of cases where charges brought | 4 | - | 0 |
Outcome of prosecutions | 1 successful 2 unsuccessful 1 ongoing | - | - |
The successful prosecution as a result of an investigation in 2011-12 was of David Peters who worked as an assessor for Safetycor Ltd, a subcontractor to Exeter College and Wolverhampton College.