§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years. [27987]
§ Malcolm WicksWe are taking determined steps to combat internal fraud. We have published an internal fraud policy that sets out staff responsibilities, and appointed a senior accountable officer and a supporting central probity team. There are also security specialists and staff to investigate suspected internal fraud vigorously when it arises. We know that the overwhelming majority of staff are completely honest and trustworthy, and instances of internal fraud are not common, but we remain vigilant. We employ our 100,000 staff so these cases represent a small fraction of our work force.
The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in the current financial year.
The available information on the former DSS is in the table.
council tax benefit and income disregards; and if he will give example calculations of the effect of these changes. [28379]
§ Malcolm WicksWe are proposing to make a number of changes to housing benefit and council tax benefit as a result of the new pension credit. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on 7 February 2002,Official Report, column 1124W.