§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the level of fraud carried out by training providers who claim for work that has been undertaken. [15514]
§ Dr. HowellsIt is not possible to estimate the level of fraud carried out by training providers. Currently the Department for Education and Employment's Financial Scrutiny Unit is investigating 20 cases of alleged fraud or irregularity by training providers. We believe around 5,000 providers deliver training so these cases represent a very small proportion, but one, nevertheless which we seek to eradicate.