Public authority fraud bill concludes Lords committee stage

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill aims to make provision about the prevention of fraud against public authorities and the making of erroneous payments by public authorities; about the recovery of money paid by public authorities as a result of fraud or error; and for connected purposes.

Line by line examination 

Committee stage is a thorough examination of the individual parts (clauses) of the bill.

Starting from the front of the bill, members work through the clauses in order, considering changes (amendments) to the wording or proposals for new clauses.

Six days of committee stage were scheduled:

• Wednesday 4 June
• Monday 9 June
• Wednesday 11 June
• Monday 16 June
• Wednesday 18 June
• Wednesday 25 June.

Proposed changes  

Members speaking on the sixth and final day of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) to the bill on topics including:

• overpayments made as a result of an official error, and recovery of overpayments
• impact of the new law on people facing financial exclusion
• fair process and human intervention.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Explore further information 

Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing. 

Next steps

Report stage, a further chance to examine the bill and make changes, is yet to be scheduled.

What's happened so far?

Committee stage day five: Wednesday 18 June

Members speaking on day five of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) (changes) to the bill on topics including:

• consideration of circumstances and vulnerabilities
• investigators’ powers of entry
• disclosure of bank statements.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day four: Monday 16 June

Members speaking on day four of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) (PDF) to the bill on topics including:

• liability for the consequences of providing incorrect
  information
• identifying incorrect payments of a relevant benefit
• consideration of vulnerabilities
• recovery of overpayments.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day three: Wednesday 11 June

Proposed changes

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) (PDF) to the bill on topics including:

• use of deputies to act on behalf of account holders
• ministerial correspondence with liable persons in writing
• reports on public sector fraud during COVID-19 pandemic.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day two: Monday 9 June

Members speaking on day two of committee stage have put forward amendments (changes) (PDF) to the bill on topics including:

• the power of the Cabinet Office to act on behalf of another public authority
• removal of ministerial powers to make direct dedication orders
• recovery periods from private bank accounts
• tribunal decisions to extend appeal periods.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV .
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage: day one: Wednesday 4 June

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (changes) (PDF) to the bill on topics including:

• introducing an Office of the Whistleblower for public sector fraud
• recovery of overpayments
• requirements to conduct an internal review
• deductions from earnings.

Catch up

• Catch up on Parliament TV.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Second reading

Second reading, a chance for members to discuss the key principles and main purpose of a bill, took place on Thursday 15 May.

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