21. Mr. Michael Jabez FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve co-ordination between the Benefits Agency and Local Authorities in combating fraud. [88048]
§ Mr. TimmsWe regard improved co-operation across Government, as well as with Local Authorities, as fundamental to our anti-fraud work. We are continuing to encourage and develop strong links between the Benefits Agency and Local Authorities. For example, we have installed 360 Random Access Terminals in 349 Local Authorities to facilitate the exchange of data between the Benefits Agency and Local Authorities. More widely, the Government are helping Departments, Local Authorities and the private sector to work more closely together to combat fraud across the range of welfare services. There is a continuing work programme to measure the size of the security problem facing welfare services, to ensure that Departments know what type of data each holds and to explore new ways of working in concert to fight fraud and uphold compliance with the law. An Inter-Ministerial Group on Welfare Fraud was announced in July 1998 to oversee this work.