Angela Rayner challenges ministers over the £219 billion lost to fraud each year

During cabinet office questions today, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner asked the minister Alex Burghart about tax payers’ money the government has lost to fraud.

She said: “£219 billion is lost each year as a result of fraud. 219 billion. That’s the equivalent to this year’s entire central government running costs for the budget of health, defence and policing all put together”.

Mr Burghart responded: “We have established the SFA in order to clamp down on fraud. As a former DWP minister, I can assure her that this government goes after fraud wherever it is found”.