§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) malicious calls and (b) well intended but unfounded calls were made to the Benefit Fraud Hotline in each of the last three years; what was each category as a percentage of the total number of calls; and what was the average cost of investigating each such call. [90448]
§ Mr. TimmsThis is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 13 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked Mr. Mathison to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many malicious and well intended but unfounded calls were made to the Benefit Fraud Hotline in the last three years; what was each category as a percentage of the total number of calls; and what was the average cost of investigating each such call. As Mr. Mathison is currently away from the office on annual leave I am replying.Calls to the Hotline and investigations costs are not collated in the format you have requested. We do not seek to establish the motives and intentions of the caller.It may be helpful if I explain that from its introduction on 5th August 1996 to March 1999, the Benefit Fraud Hotline has received 550,000 calls. Each case is scrutinised to establish whether a fraud investigation is appropriate. Of the above total 69% have 260W been referred to the relevant fraud section for further action. Of these, 33% resulted in the reduction, cessation or the identification of an overpayment of benefit. The estimated average benefit staving per call was £218.The Benefits Agency (BA) does not disclose the results of any investigation to any caller to the Hotline. Our aim is to provide a vehicle by which the public can become involved in protecting the benefits system. The BA believes that the Benefit Fraud Hotline provides a valuable and popular service to the public in helping to reduce the level of fraudulent claims.I hope that this is helpful.