This is the story that’s caught people’s
attention – from the Independent.
In an announcement that throws the Coalition’s privatisation drive into disarray, the Serious Fraud Office was called in to investigate G4S, the world’s largest security company, over contracts dating back over a decade.
Serco, one of Britain’s largest companies, also faces an inquiry by auditors over its charges for operating tagging schemes.
The firms supply an array of services to the public sector from running courts, prisons and immigration removal centres to managing welfare-to-work schemes and the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Between them the two companies receive around £1.5bn a year from the taxpayer, but their contracts are worth billions of pounds because the vast majority run for several years.We have been waiting for more news on this.
But it’s worth noting (as Private Eye has)
that SERCO, under investigation for fraud with G4s, is a leading
Work Programme provider.
Serco delivers
two Work Programme contracts on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions in:
- Coventry and Warwickshire, Staffordshire and The Marches; and
- South Yorkshire.
There is of course no need to worry about SERCO’s
involvement with the Work Programme.
Lord
Freud himself has said so,
Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud visited the Inspire to Independence (i2i) site in Coventry in March, to find out more about Serco, our network of providers and our involvement in the Governments’ Work Programme.
The Minister conveyed how pleased he was with i2i and Serco’s Work Programme involvement and positive impact in supporting people into work.
It is well-known that not a single Work Programme
provider (er hum,. except……) has ever been accused of fraudulent
practices.
