DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Our Ref: VTR 2455

January 5^th 2010

Dear Mr Rymer

I am now in a position to reply to your request for information about:

“How much money have welfare to work providers had to pay back to DWP in the last five years in Merseyside due to fraud?”

The information you have requested is only available from 2006-07 onwards. Our data systems changed during 2005-2006 and the earliest date from which reliable information can be provided is April 2006.

As information from January 2009 has been provided in earlier replies (FOI 2203-2206), this isn't replicated within this response. During the period April 2006 to December 2008, as a result of investigations undertaken by the Department, one Welfare to Work Provider in Merseyside paid back £146 to DWP as a consequence of an overpayment resulting from a fraud by an individual employee of the company.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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