HL Deb 15 December 1994 vol 559 c137WA
Lord Hooson

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimate of the amount of money lost by fraud within the social security system in England and Wales between 1980 and 1993 and how much of the said money has been recovered.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

The full extent of social security fraud between 1980 and 1993 is not known. Estimated savings by DSS/Benefits Agency fraud investigators in Great Britain since April 1987 and recoveries of benefit overpayments since 1991 are set out in the table. Earlier or more detailed information is not available.

Overpayment2
Fraud Savings1 £ million Recoveries £ million
1987–88 196
1988–89 262
1989–90 309
1990–91 341
1991–92 447 24
1992–93 558 38
1993–94 654 80
1 Includes fraud identified and stopped, but excludes fraud losses which remained undetected.
2 Information relating to the amount of overpayments arising from fraud is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The figures provided included non-fraudulent overpayments where an adjudication officer has decided recovery is appropriate.