HL Deb 09 January 1996 vol 568 cc14-5WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Benefits Agency, when it detects "instrument of payment" fraud, uses a multiplier to calculate the amount of such fraud, and if so, what is that multiplier.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

The Benefits Agency does not use a multiplier in its calculation of the amount of instrument of payment (IOP) fraud. The amount of IOP fraud recorded is the face value of the IOP that has been prevented from encashment following the intervention of fraud staff. This is the amount of a Girocheque or, in the case of an order book, the value of foils remaining in the book.