Government proposals to curb multibillion-pound benefit fraud involve “tools of an Orwellian surveillance state” and could put people through “absolute hell”, MPs have warned.

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill seeks to allow the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to recover money directly from fraudsters’ bank accounts and have the power to obtain bank statements from people they believe have enough cash to pay back welfare debts, but are refusing to do so.

Courts could also suspend fraudsters’ driving licences following an application by the DWP, if they owe welfare debts of more than £1,000 and have ignored repeated requests to pay it back.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said people entitled to claim benefits have “nothing to worry about” from the new powers contained in the Bill, which MPs voted to approve at second reading by 343 to 87, majority 256

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/national/24907279.mps-raise-concerns-orwellian-powers-crack-benefit-fraud/?ref=twtrec