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Benefit claimants risk falling victim to Government “mass fishing” exercises, as ministers receive new powers to look at bank account details to tackle fraud, an MP has warned.

Several MPs urged the Government to consider widening the role of an independent person, whose job will be to keep these powers in check.

Their plea was rejected by 268 votes to 80, majority 188, with minister Andrew Western saying nobody vulnerable or otherwise should be “de-banked as a result” of the new rules.

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Accountability) Bill has cleared both Hou

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