Benefit Integrity Project (Hansard, 16 December 1998)

§ Mr. Todd
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 10 November 1998,Official Report, column 167, if people affected by motor neurone disease will be selected for reassessment under the Benefit Integrity Project, or its replacement, regardless of the rate of disability living allowance received. [64191]

§ Mr. Timms
The Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) has been subject to continuous review and we have made changes based on an analysis of cases showing the rate of change in entitlement. On 23 September I announced further exemptions to the BIP, including people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) who are receiving the higher rate of the mobility component together with the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
We plan to replace the BIP with a new system which is part of the routine administration of the benefit and which is both sensitive and fair. We are discussing our proposals with the Disability Benefits Forum. Contact with those with MND receiving a lower rate of DLA would allow the rate to be increased if appropriate.

§ Mr. Oaten
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much the Benefits Integrity Project has cost to administer for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998 to date. [64009]

§ Mr. Timms
The administration of the Benefit Integrity Project is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 15 December 1998: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how much the Benefit Integrity Project has cost to administer for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998 to date. 613W In 1997–98 the Benefit Integrity Project cost £8.27m to administer. In 1998–99, up to 31 October 1998, the project has cost £7m. Statistical informationabout the Benefit Integrity Project is published on a monthly basis and is placed in the House of Commons Library. I hope you find this reply useful.