Final report reveals nearly £11bn in fraud and errors in COVID-19 schemes costing taxpayers
A final report by COVID Counter-Fraud Commissioner Tom Hayhoe estimates that nearly £11bn has been lost to fraud and error across various pandemic support schemes.
These schemes included the furlough program, bounce-back loans, support grants, and the Eat Out to Help Out initiative.
The report highlights that the lack of government data to accurately target economic support made it easier for fraudsters to claim benefits from multiple schemes simultaneously and secure dual funding.
An earlier Treasury-commissioned report from June also found that PPE contracts cost taxpayers £1.4bn, with £762m spent on unused PPE that is unlikely to be recovered.
The causes for these PPE-related losses include government over-ordering and delays in checking the delivered PPE.
These findings represent the final analysis from the COVID Counter-Fraud Commissioner’s assessment of pandemic-related financial support and procurement.
