Directorate of Counter Fraud Services

HC Deb 05 December 2001 vol 376 cc364-5W

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the cost in 2001–02 of the Directorate of Counter Fraud Services; and what level of fraud it has detected. [16941]

Ms Blears

The Directorate of Counter Fraud Services (DCFS) is the central unit of the National Health Service Counter Fraud Service (NHS CFS). The DCFS budget for 2001–02 is £1,344,200.

Since its inception, the NHS CFS has investigated 1,022 cases of alleged fraud, with an appropriate sanction being applied in every case where fraud has been proven. A 100 per cent. success rate has been achieved in 76 criminal prosecution cases. A further 131 civil and disciplinary sanction cases have been successfully progressed. A total of £11.9 million has been recovered and fraud through evasion of NHS prescription charges has been reduced by £48 million (41 per cent.) by the year 2000–01.