§ Mr. RogersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total annual cost of operating the fraud sector of his Department; and whether he intends to grant the sector agency status.
§ Mr. JackSocial security fraud staff were reorganised into fraud sector teams on 2 January 1991. The estimated annual cost of operating these teams is £62,000,000, producing an annual benefit saving of about £383,000,000.
Since 1 April 1991 fraud sector teams have been included in the executive responsibilities of the new Benefits Agency. We have no plans to grant these teams separate agency status.