The overall level of public sector fraud and error in Scotland has fallen slightly, according to the results of a national counter-fraud exercise.
Every two years the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) identifies outcomes worth millions in estimated savings to the public sector purse.
The 2020/21 NFI exercise in Scotland identified outcomes valued at £14.9m, compared to £15.3m in 2018/19. This included:
£4.6m in reduced or removed council tax discounts.
£1.5m in occupational pensions not being paid out.
£1.2m in housing benefit payments stopped or reduced.
The reduction in outcomes could be due to public bodies strengthening their internal controls.
Some key data sets from previous exercises were also not included in the latest exercise - and public bodies also said increased pressure on services during the pandemic meant staff had less time available to commit to the NFI.
Antony Clark, executive director of performance audit and best value, said: "Despite the challenges of the pandemic, public bodies in Scotland continue to show a strong commitment to detecting fraud and error.
"At a difficult time for public sector budgets, it’s important that all participating bodies continue to look to maximise their participation in the exercise and act on areas of improvement identified by local auditors."
This is the NFI's eighth biennial exercise since 2006/07. It compares electronic data about individuals held by different public bodies to identify potential errors or fraud, and to ensure pensions, housing benefit and other services go to the right people.
Led by Audit Scotland, it is overseen by the Cabinet Office for the UK as a whole.
NFI participants include all councils, NHS bodies, colleges and all larger central government bodies, for example, the Scottish Government, Revenue Scotland and Transport Scotland.
In addition, 14 councils include data from arm’s-length external organisations, joint boards or subsidiaries within their NFI submissions.
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