§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current saving in social security benefit payments derived by either a reduction in fraud or greater efficiency; and what was the comparable figure for 1979 and 1978.
§ Mr. PrenticeSo far as savings from the reduction of social security fraud or abuse in 1980–81 are concerned, I shall answer the hon. Member's question, so far as is possible, in the further statement promised in my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Brown).—[Vol. 989, c.371.] Since much of the relevant data have become available because of the special monitoring arrangements introduced by this Government, it will not be possible to make a comparison between the results achieved in 1980–81 and those of previous financial years.
It is not possible to estimate the net effect of greater efficiency on the amount of benefit paid.