§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to produce the accounts of his Department in a form which is acceptable to the Comptroller and Auditor General; on how many occasions the accounts of his Department have been subject to a qualified audit report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe appropriation account recording expenditure of income support, family benefits and pension and disability benefits has been qualified on each occasion by the Comptroller and Auditor General for the years 1981–82 to 1991–92. There were a number of factors which caused the account to be qualified over the period. The main one, relating to the use of issues and encashment data, has not been a factor since 1989–90
The 1991–92 account was subject to a qualified audit report due to errors in the assessment and recording of payments of income support and inaccuracies in the awards of family credit. Action is in hand seeking to improve performance in these areas.
The reformed housing benefit scheme came into effect in 1982 and since that time the housing benefit appropriation account has been qualified by the Comptroller and Auditor General on three occasions; 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1991–92. To improve the Department's performance tighter subsidy arrangements have been introduced.
Since 1981–82 the administration and miscellaneous services account has been qualified on four occasions; 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1986–87; the last occasion on which the account was subject to a qualified audit report from the Comptroller and Auditor General.