§ 29. Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on levels of fraud within the benefit system; and if he will make a statement. [73066]
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§ Mr. TimmsConsultation on the Green Paper, "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: securing the future", ended on 30 September 1998, and 165 responses were received. The great majority of responses supported the strategy and its governing principles.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is taking to deal with organised fraud in housing benefit; what action is proposed following the closure of the London organised fraud investigation team; and if he will make a statement. [74281]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) was launched in November 1997 to examine and report to the Secretary of State on the administration of Social Security benefits by central Government agencies and local authorities with a particular emphasis on standards of counter-fraud and security performance. It examines and reports on local authority performance in administering Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit and countering fraud.
Local authorities in London now refer cases of suspected organised Housing Benefit fraud to Benefits Agency organised fraud investigation teams.
We are carrying out a review of how organised fraud within Social Security benefits, including fraud in those benefits that are administered by local authorities, can be countered.