Hansard

It is a pleasure to contribute to the short debate on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill and the accompanying legislative consent motion.

I thank the cabinet secretary for the clearly articulated explanation of the position with regard to the LCM, and the fact that a supplementary LCM may well be required when other areas are identified and settled on.

To draw on Alexander Stewart’s contribution, it is right to remember that the intention behind the bill is to prevent and deter fraud and error. The aim is also to facilitate the recovery of funds where, through fraud and error, money has been lost from—as Alexander Stewart so rightly put it—the taxpayer. The bill is also about a focus on the DWP. On top of that, the bill will establish the public sector fraud authority, which will deal with such matters going forward.

In respect of today’s LCM, I thank both the committees in this Parliament that have worked on it, and the Scottish Government for the work that it has put into discussing with the UK Government the outstanding matters. In many ways, they can be simplified, but that does not detract from the importance of the fact that those benefits that are awarded in Scotland through devolved powers will be exempt from the recovery described in the bill. The UK Government has confirmed and amended the bill, and it has also given undertakings to ensure that those are not covered.

To the embarrassment, I hope, of Alexander Stewart, I will echo his final words on the matter. Let us send a clear message that those who are entitled to benefits are entitled to them, and that those who through fraud and, on occasions, error, receive funds should seek to return those funds. However, I note that, because of the difference in approach that we have here in Scotland, those benefits under Social Security Scotland are specifically excluded by the bill.