14 March 2003
Auditor general Bob Black has found that almost a quarter of the £18.8m claimed in Scotland by providers under the Individual Learning Accounts scheme was probably fraudulent.
The much-criticised scheme, since abandoned by the government in London, came under renewed scrutiny in Black's report this week, which pointed to 'significant failings' in its operation north of the border.
The Scottish Executive's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department was not sufficiently involved in the development and implementation of the scheme, nor did it appreciate the risk of fraud, he said.
Some £3.8m of claims are still outstanding.
PFmar2003
