§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of the special claims control unit fraud investigation at his Department's Highgate office in 1984; how many claimants were visited and over what period; how many repeat visits were made and over what period; how many claimants investigated were taken off benefit or had their benefit reduced; what was the amount of benefit per week this saved; and how many of the people taken off benefit successfully reclaimed benefit in 1984 and in what period.
§ Mr. Whitney:The one exercise carried out by a specialist claims control team at the Highgate office in 608W 1984 took place between 28 May and 6 July. During this period 55 current claims were examined and as a result 16 claimants stopped receiving benefit and two others had the amount of their benefit reduced. The total amount of benefit per week saved was £1,084.91, which in a full year would total £56,415. Only one of the claimants whose benefit was ceased or reduced made a repeat claim in 1984 and that was made on 14 September. The cost of the exercise was £5,400.