5.7 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 5.8 At Spring Statement 2025, the government announced its ambition to increase the number of positive charging decisions (PCDs) for the most harmful fraud by 20%, from 500 to 600 per year by 2029-30. HMRC has not set specific targets for PCDs in different customer groups, but as part of these plans it is expected that the number of wealthy individuals under criminal investigation will increase, with a corresponding increase in PCDs. Investigation activity will also include fraud facilitated by those in large corporations, and by individuals and companies who make it possible for others to hide money offshore, in addition to tackling other key threats. The reference in the Committee’s report to increasing the number of individuals charged each year by five was based on previous prosecution volumes rather than positive charging decision figures. 5.9 HMRC has already significantly increased the number of wealthy individuals under criminal investigation from around 50 in 2016-17, to 275 at the end of 2024-25. Due to the length of time it takes for criminal investigations to reach trial, an increase in PCDs during this spending review period will likely lead to an increase in prosecutions in later years. HMRC is not a prosecuting authority; decisions about prosecutions sit with the independent prosecuting authorities.