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Fraud and error in public payments

The bill has been signed off by the King and is now law.

In plain words

This law gives public bodies new powers to tackle and recover money lost through fraud and error, both inside and outside the benefits system.

Summary drafted by AI, checked by Jonathan on 4 Oct 2026. Source: Parliament Library briefing.

Official title: Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025

  1. 1Introduced1st reading
  2. 2Main debate2nd reading
  3. 3Detailed checksCommittee
  4. 4ChangesReport stage
  5. 5Final vote3rd reading
  6. 6Other houseLords or Commons
  7. 7Becomes lawRoyal Assent

Nothing more. This bill is now law.

Put forward by Liz Kendall, Baroness Sherlock.

Votes so far

DateVoteCountResult
5 Nov 2025Fraud and error in public payments: changes from the House of Lords268 for, 80 againstAgreed

Votes in the Lords

DateVoteCountResult
21 Oct 2025Lords vote 5138 content, 138 not contentRejected
21 Oct 2025Lords vote 4212 content, 144 not contentAgreed
21 Oct 2025Lords vote 3253 content, 153 not contentAgreed
21 Oct 2025Lords vote 2262 content, 157 not contentAgreed
21 Oct 2025Lords vote 1270 content, 160 not contentAgreed
15 Oct 2025Lords vote 2139 content, 186 not contentRejected
15 Oct 2025Lords vote 1200 content, 194 not contentAgreed
Full timeline
DateStageHouse
22 Jan 20251st readingCommons
3 Feb 20252nd readingCommons
3 Feb 2025Programme motionCommons
3 Feb 2025Money resolutionCommons
25 Feb 2025, 27 Feb 2025, 4 Mar 2025Committee stageCommons
29 Apr 2025Report stageCommons
29 Apr 20253rd readingCommons
30 Apr 20251st readingLords
15 May 20252nd readingLords
4 Jun 2025, 9 Jun 2025, 11 Jun 2025Committee stageLords
15 Oct 2025, 21 Oct 2025Report stageLords
23 Oct 20253rd readingLords
5 Nov 2025Programme motionCommons
5 Nov 2025Consideration of Lords amendmentsCommons
11 Nov 2025Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasonsLords
2 Dec 2025Royal AssentUnassigned

In the bill’s own words: A Bill 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.

Official page on Parliament’s site

Source: Parliament Bills API · Commons votes from the Commons Votes API.