UK Inquiry Tracker

Government use of data analytics on error and fraud

Public Accounts Committee Open Inquiry

Opened: 17 Nov 2025 Parliament page

Government lost between £55bn-£81bn to fraud and error in 2023-24. There are central platforms for public bodies to use to detect error and fraud, and in the same year these generated around £400m of savings. Some have used data analytics to detect and prevent fraud and error for many years, … Read more Government lost between £55bn-£81bn to fraud and error in 2023-24. There are central platforms for public bodies to use to detect error and fraud, and in the same year these generated around £400m of savings. Some have used data analytics to detect and prevent fraud and error for many years, and a few are now trialling new technologies including artificial intelligence. The National Audit Office (NAO) found in July that the use of data analytics to tackle this issue have produced only modest savings compared to the amount which they could potentially achieve. It also found that the £6bn/yr which the Government Digital Service believes government could save in this way should be read with caution, due to the fact it does not account for the costs or effort needed to achieve it. The PAC found in 2023 that large gaps remained in government’s understanding of its exposure to the risks of fraud and corruption against government, while its 2021 report on fraud and error warned that government significantly increased taxpayer exposure to fraud and error by its twin decisions to drop basic fraud and error checks in paying out Covid-19 loans, and to support people and businesses that it had no prior relationship with. Proceeding from the NAO’s July report, the PAC will hear from senior government officials as it scrutinises how government can overcome barriers to using data analytics to save more of the taxpayer’s money. If you have evidence on these issues, please submit here by 23:59 on Thursday 18 December 2025. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. The Committee decides what information to publish and how. You can request anonymity or confidentiality when you send evidence, but it is for the Committee to say whether it will agree. It may treat submissions confidentially, even where you have not requested this. Please note that the Committee’s inquiry cannot assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to read the information on Parliament’s website about who you can contact with different issues. Show less

6 Recommendations

16 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Letter

1 Event

Activity timeline 4 events

27 Mar
2026

Report published

75th Report - Government use of data analytics on error and fraud

16 Mar
2026

Correspondence

Letter from the Chief Executive of the Cabinet Office relating to Follow Up - Estimation of counter fraud outcomes following legislative ch…

15 Jan
2026

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

15 Jan
2026

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

15 Jan 2026

View on parliament.uk

Conrad Smewing · HM Treasury Emran Mian · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Mark Cheeseman OBE · Public Sector Fraud Authority

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
75th Report - Government use of data analytics on error and fraud	HC 891	27 Mar 2026	22	Overdue

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 result

1 Recommendation Accepted in Part

75th Report - Government use of da…

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA), and the Government Finance Function (GFF) within HM Treasury.1 Read more

Government Response

The government will update the government financial reporting manual (FReM) to include a requirement for public bodies to set out in their annual reports what they are doing to tackle fraud and error, but disagrees with the publication of individual counter fraud financial targets.

HM Treasury

View details

Government Response AI assessment · 6 of 6 classified

Accepted 4

Accepted in Part 1

Rejected 1

Total 6 recs + 16 conclusions

Correspondence 1 letter

16 Mar 2026 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of the Cabinet Office relating to Follow Up - Estimation of counter fraud outcomes following legislative changes, 12 March 2026

Parliament page