Instruct SFO to investigate activities of A4E

A4E hascontracts with the DWP to deliver work programs. In the past three years using the data from independent monitors who looked at the accounts of A4E nearly 40% of the invoices total were suspect in that it wasn’t clear cut whether the claimant had found work or had been placed into reskill or retraining program. The contract with the DWP is worth £186 Million a year; so as a rough estimate £216 Million has been overpaid over three years as the contract was never properly fulfilled. Independent monitors stated that at the very least 20% of the placements they investigated and invoiced for by A4E were suspicious and probably fraudulent involving a staggering£ 108Million pounds. Ex- employees including a senior auditor revealed that it was routine practise to falsify documents and submit invoices for payment knowing that they were not entitled to them.

Under section 1 Criminal Justice Act 1987 only the Director of the Serious Fraud Office can decide to investigate a suspected offence where it appears to him on reasonable grounds to involve serious or complex fraud. The Attorney General is unable to direct the Director of the Serious Fraud Office to commence an investigation.