Fraud (Hansard, 16 March 1993)

§ Mr. Burt

The administration of fraud detection is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 15 March 1993: 214W As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking on how many occasions social security fraud was detected in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) West Yorkshire in the last year for which figures are available; and how many prosecutions were undertaken in these areas. The last full year for which figures are available is the year ending 31 March 1992. During the year ending 31 March 1992 a total of 196,061 social security investigations into fraud were undertaken in England by officers of the Benefits Agency. Included in this figure are 23,179 cases in the Yorkshire and Humberside area. I regret that I am unable to provide figures for the West Yorkshire area as we do not have a distinct operational area there. In the same year there were a total of 3,644 prosecutions undertaken in England and Wales. I am unable to provide separate figures for England alone or the West Yorkshire and Humberside area. All prosecution statistics for the year in question were compiled by our solicitors branch who do not operate within these distinct geographical areas. It may be useful for you to know that from the year starting April 1992 we have compiled prosecution statistics for each of our operational areas. This will enable us to provide information for smaller geographical areas. I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.