HC Deb 16 February 1983 vol 37 cc186-7W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for the most recent period for which figures are available, on how many occasions his Department asked the police to assist with the investigation of supplementary benefit fraud and to bring prosecutions.

Mr. Rossi

Information about the total number of cases referred to the police for investigation is not available. However, during the first three quarters of the current operational year 1982–83, 2,716 cases of supplementary benefit fraud were prosecuted by the police on referral from this Department for investigation. Of these, 2,560 resulted in conviction. The Department does not ask the police to bring prosecutions; when cases are referred for police action the question of proceedings becomes wholly a matter for them.

Mr. Christopher Price

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received from the local authority associations on intended amendments to regulations 9(4) and 9(5) of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations 1980;

(2) what consultation he has undertaken so far on intended amendments to regulations 9(4) and 9(5) of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations 1980.

Mr. Newton

No representations have been received but there have been informal consultations with the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. The proposed amendments will be referred shortly to the Social Security Advisory Committee, which will invite comments in the usual way.

Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the current value of the May 1979 limit for assistance with essential repairs for home owners dependent on supplementary benefit.

Mr. Newton

The £225 limit on the cost of essential repairs for which a supplementary benefit single payment can be made would be £360 if it had been increased in line with the retail prices index between November 1978 and November 1982.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the net saving from the withdrawal of housing additions to supplementary benefit for 16 and 17-year-olds under the housing benefits scheme in (a) 1983–84 and ((b)1984–85.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1983, c. 444.]: The withdrawal of the supplementary benefit non-householder housing addition is part of the general housing benefit package in which savings from one area are being used to make improvements elsewhere in the scheme. The net savings from this particular change amount to about £10 million in 1983–84 and about £19 million in 1984–85. This estimate excludes savings which would have arisen in any event with the introduction of the youth training scheme and reflects, for 1983–84, the cost of protection against losses for existing recipients of the addition. The change is the corollary of the decision not to make deductions from the supplementary benefit of householders who have 16 to 17-year-old non-dependant living with them.