§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful prosecutions for fraud involving housing or council tax benefit were undertaken by local authorities in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [69859]
§ Malcolm Wicks[holding answer 15 July 20021: For the number of successful prosecutions for benefit fraud I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer given to him on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 542W. Local authorities are not required to inform the Department of prosecutions which are subsequently abandoned or result in an acquittal.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by local authorities to investigate suspicions of fraud involving housing or council tax benefit in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [69861]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is in the table.
Average total number of fraud investigators (full-time or full-time equivalent) employed by local authorities 1997–98 1,990 1998–99 2,170 1999–00 2,140 2000–01 2,160 Note:
Information is not available for all 408 local authorities. The total includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System