§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money has been lost by her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through(a) fraud and (b) theft in each year since 1996–97. [92481]
§ Clare ShortThe estimated cost to DFID's budget of theft and fraud in the period l April 1996 to 31 March 2002 is some £367,000 of which £207,000 can be attributed to contractor fraud. Of the remaining sum, £129,000 relates to the theft of assets and misappropriation of cash, which in line with Treasury guidance has been classified as involving departmental staff either directly or through collusion. Details of suspected or proven fraud are provided to the Treasury on an annual basis. The annual report that the Treasury prepares on fraud is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.