HC Deb 25 March 2003 vol 402 cc169-70W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of computer(a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department. [97567]

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people have been convicted of benefit fraud on two separate occasions since April 2002; [92501]

(2) how many persons who were convicted of benefit fraud in each of the last four years for which figures are available had (a) one, (b) two and (c) more than two previous convictions for benefit fraud; [94001]

(3) how many persons claiming benefit have (a) one, (b) two and (c) more than two convictions for benefit fraud; and what the total amount claimed by such persons is, broken down by type of benefit. [94002]

Malcolm Wicks

We have taken powers in the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 to strengthen benefit fraud investigation and punish persistent offenders more severely. The provision to sanction people convicted of two separate benefit fraud offences in a three-year period, known as the 'two-strikes provision', came into force on 1 April 2002. This provision can only be applied to people who have committed, and then been convicted for, two separate benefit offences after that date.

Information on the number of people who were convicted of benefit fraud and who had one or more previous convictions for benefit fraud is recorded only from April 2002. However, our research suggests that prior to April 2002 approximately five per cent. of prosecutions involved a person with a previous conviction for benefit fraud.

By 28 January 2003, our records showed that four people had been convicted of benefit fraud on two separate occasions since April 2002. In two of these cases, one or more of the offences had occurred before 1 April 2002, so the 'two strikes' legislation does not apply. In the third case, sanctionable benefits are not in payment currently, but the case has been marked so that if the person reclaims benefit within the next three years a sanction will be applied. In the fourth case, sanctionable benefits are in payment and sanctions are being imposed. Information about the amounts obtained and the benefits defrauded in the four cases concerned are in the following table.

Malcolm Wicks

There were no cases hacking detected in 2001–02.

The number of cases of fraud detected 2001–02. Of these, all were perpetrated by

The number of cases of computer theft 89 in 2001–02. Of these, one was perpetrated by an insider and the remainder by persons Department or unknown.

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