§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the results of the efficiency scrutiny of social security fraud; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI have today placed a copy of the report in the Library.
My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and I have carefully considered the recommendations contained in the report. On the major organisational issue raised by the report we have considered that it would not be right to establish a unified fraud investigation agency separate from the normal benefit administration of either Department. In our view action on fraud must be seen as an integral part of each Department's overall responsibilities to ensure that benefits go to those properly entitled to them. All benefits staff need to be alert to the risk of fraud and those investigating it need to understand the detail of benefits and be able to work in close co-operation with staff delivering them.
Instead, we propose to adopt the alternative approach recommended by the report, reorganising fraud resources within DSS into sector teams and reaching a liaison agreement between the two Departments to strengthen co-operation between them in preventing and detecting fraud.
A number of the report's other recommendations will also be implemented, with particular emphasis on those which seek to increase efficiency and effectiveness and to improve the monitoring of performance. Officials of the two Departments will prepare a joint action plan with a view to having the new organisational arrangements in place by the end of the year.