Statement
My honourable Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Transformation)(Andrew Western MP) has made the following Written Statement.
I would like to notify the House that the Department for Work and Pensions has obtained approval for an advance from the Contingencies Fund of £4,500,000. This will enable the department to start building an IT solution, for the delivery of the Eligibility Verification Measure, from May 2025 onwards, before the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, which includes this measure, receives Royal Assent.
Funding for this measure was included in the Spending Review 2024. It is expected to generate £940m savings over 5 years to 2029-30. Expenditure before Royal Assent will help ensure the timely delivery of these savings.
Parliamentary approval for capital of £4,500,000 for this new service will be sought in a Main Estimate for the Department for Work and Pensions. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £ 4,500,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.
The advance will be repaid at the earliest opportunity following Royal Assent of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.
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