Gainsborough's MP, Edward Leigh, has questioned the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the rates of error and fraud in child benefit. Afterwards, he said:

“Benefit fraud is a serious issue, and I support the Secretary of State when he talks of the ‘downward pressure on fraud and error’ across his department.

“When people in the Gainsborough constituency are seeing benefits of all kinds, including child benefit, cut; it is important that the system is completely fair. It is grossly unfair that when people all around North Lincolnshire are seeing their family budgets squeezed, especially due to the withdrawal of child benefit, some people are fraudulently claiming money from taxpayers.

“I welcome the assertion by Iain Duncan Smith that he will be able to save ‘considerable amounts of money’ within his department, money that can be used to get the economy back on track and reduce the deficit.”