§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his oral answer of 13 November 2000,Official Report, column 639, what amount of detected Housing Benefit fraud can be attributed to organised crime in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected Housing Benefit fraud that represents; [139578]
(2) if he will make a statement on the amount of detected benefit fraud which can be attributed to the claimant's failure to report a change of circumstances in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected benefit fraud that represents; [139576)
(3) pursuant to his oral answer of 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 639, what amount of detected benefit fraud can be attributed to organised crime in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected benefit fraud that represents; [139577]
(4) if he will make a statement on the amount of detected Housing Benefit fraud which can be attributed to the claimant's failure to report a change of circumstances in each year since 1990; and what proportion of total detected Housing Benefit fraud that represents. [139580]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is not available in the format requested. However, it is believed that claimants' failure to report a change in circumstances to the Department is the major cause of fraud. Seven out of ten mistakes enter the system after an initial valid claim.