The Scottish Government needs to encourage public bodies and all local authorities to take part in the Scottish Fraud Initiative and other initiatives to reduce fraud and error. MSP Murdo Fraser made the call during First Minister’s Question Time today (7th June), when he asked the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the recently published Audit Scotland report, “The National Fraud Initiative in Scotland”. Audit Scotland state in their report that “in addition to the main National Fraud Initiative matching exercise, a separate exercise has been undertaken to match electoral registers against those households where council tax single person discounts are being claimed. The matches took place in October 2011 and the results were provided to councils in February 2012 to investigate. Across the UK, Angus and Perth & Kinross Councils were the only ones that decided not to participate due to their interpretation of data protection and electoral legislation.” In the Chamber, Murdo Fraser said: “I am sure that the First Minister will join me in commending Audit Scotland for its work, which has uncovered £78 million-worth of fraud and overpayments over the past 10 years. However, the report highlights that a number of public bodies are not using or integrating the national fraud initiative. Given that this is an area of financial policy over which the First Minister does currently have control, can he tell us how those bodies will be encouraged to make greater efforts to save vital public funds? In response, Alex Salmond stated: “Scottish Government bodies fully co-operate with the national fraud initiative. That is exactly why we set up the national fraud initiative. “Auditor General Robert Black states that the overall findings show that there is in Scotland a “high degree of commitment” to the national fraud initiative.” Afterwards, Murdo Fraser said: “I welcome Audit Scotland’s work in reducing fraud and error with taxpayer’s money. All of Scotland’s local authorities need to work with Audit Scotland to ensure the best use of public fund. “The Scottish Government needs to work with local authorities to ensure that we are stamping out any practise of fraud and correcting any errors when it comes to taxpayers’ money. I also want to see support and encouragement given to individuals who wish to whistle-blow on anyone who is taking advantage of their position and misusing public funds.”