New crackdown on £39bn benefit fraud

A CRACKDOWN on benefit fraudsters and a cash injection into science and technology are promised as the country awaits the Chancellor's spending review on Wednesday.

- By David Williamson

The Treasury hopes action to tackle fraud-sters will save taxpayers nearly £10billion over the next five years.

“Out-of-control levels of fraud and error” meant £39billion was taken from taxpayers over the last Parliament, said a source.

The “biggest-ever package” of measures to stamp out welfare fraud and error will see the Department for Work and Pensions gain powers to take fraudsters’ driving licences away, recover debt directly from bank accounts and get new information on banking activity.

A government source said: “If people aren’t entitled to benefits, they shouldn’t be getting them. We have been clear we will not tolerate fraud, error or waste in the broken welfare system — especially as it is always hard-working taxpayers who foot the bill.