§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the estimated cost of housing benefit fraud in each of the last 10 years. [76437]
§ Mr. TimmsInformation about Housing Benefit fraud is not available for each of the last ten years. The first Housing Benefit Accuracy Review in 1995 estimated annual losses from fraud and strongly suspected fraud to be £905 million. The equivalent estimate from the second Review in 1997–98 is £600 million. However, due to the different methodology used in each review, it is not possible to state with an acceptable level of statistical certainty that there has been a decrease in the level of fraud and suspected fraud.
Note:
Conclusions about the level of incorrect Housing Benefit payments were derived from a sample of claims. For the Housing Benefit reviews, 95 per cent. confidence limits were calculated for each of the estimates. (£500 million to £1,300 million for the 1995 Review estimate and £410 million to £820 million for the 1997–98 Review estimate). These limits indicate the range within which it can be 95 per cent. certain that the true value for all Housing Benefit claims lie.
Sources:
Housing Benefit Review 1995 (DSS)
Housing Benefit Accuracy Review 1997–98 (GSS).