§ Mr. KilfoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the cost of anti-fraud measures was in(a) 1997–98 (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000. [145201]
469W
§ Mr. RookerThe Department set out its strategy for tackling fraud and error in the paper—"A New Contract for Welfare: Safeguarding Social Security" (Cm 4276)—published on 23 March 1999. The overall aim of the strategy is to have a benefit system which is secure from first claim to final payment.
The implementation of this strategy means that an anti-fraud focus is integral to the work of the Department, as is dealing with the wider agenda of error and incorrectness in benefit payments. It is therefore not possible to account for the cost of all anti-fraud work separately. It is an important part of the Department's work.