Our Audit Committee has today (23 September), considered the Audit Scotland National Report ‘The National Fraud Initiative in Scotland 2024’
The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) takes place every two years and operates across the UK public sector and includes 110 public bodies in Scotland.
The counter-fraud exercise aims to prevent and detect fraud, submits data and details the outcomes from the 2022-23 exercise in Scotland.
Outcomes
The NFI in Scotland 2024 report highlights significant outcomes:
- £21.5 million in fraud and payment errors across the Scottish public sector
- £4.6 million was saved through Council tax discounts by removing ineligible claims
- £1.2 million in housing benefit overpayments were identified and stopped
- £1.5 million was preserved in occupational pensions by discontinuing payments to individuals who had passed away
We have various procedures in place to prevent and detect fraud and irregularities. These include making sure staff follow approved rules and procedures, encouraging staff to report any suspicious activities through whistleblowing, having codes of conduct for members and staff to promote proper behaviour and reviewing approval, check and access controls annually to reduce fraud and risk.
Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol, Chair of Audit Committee
“The Council has actively participated in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) demonstrating its commitment to support the prevention and detection of fraud.
“By identifying discrepancies and improper claims, we can reduce financial losses, protect public funds and ensure our resources can be used to provide essential services.”
We participate in the NFI exercises as part of our counter fraud strategy in protecting the public purse.
Details on other counter fraud activity during 2023/24, including the outcomes from our participation in the National Fraud Initiative 2022-2023, were included in the Counter Fraud Annual Report 2023/24 which was presented to the Audit Committee on 20 May 2024.