§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 10 December 1993,Official Report, column 409, if he will make it his policy 902W that the Benefits Agency shall monitor centrally the number of girocheques issued by the Employment Service agency on behalf of his Department and the number of replacement girocheques issued to claimants;
(2) how many girocheques have been issued by his Department for each of the last five years; and what was the total value of the girocheques issued for each of those years.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of payment of benefit by girocheque is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 20 January 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about girocheques issued by the Department of Social Security.The number of girocheques issued by the Department of Social Security in each of the last five years are as follows:
DSS issued (million) Value of DSS issues (£ million) 1988–89 30.884 2,292 1989–90 34.484 2,619 1990–91 14.470 2,814 1991–92 36.190 3,304 1992–93 27.863 3,509 As you will be aware from my reply of 9.12.93., the Employment Service acts as our agent in the provision of girocheques to those who are unemployed and claiming Income Support. Data relevant to the number of girocheques issued cannot be separately identified as some girocheques are paid for a combination of benefits.We are advised of the number of girocheques issued by Employment Services and we are able to identify the total amount paid in respect of both Department of Social Security and Employment Service benefits. However, as a number of girocheques are issued for a combination of benefits administered by both Agencies, it is not possible to state how many girocheques were issued for Benefit Agency payments only, Employment Service payments only, or a combination of payments in respect of both Agencies.Within the Benefits Agency we are constantly monitoring the volume of losses of all Instruments of Payment including girocheques. Methods of preventing and reducing Instrument of Payment fraud are being developed in conjunction with Post Office Counters Ltd, Royal. Mail and the Employment Services. One of the areas we are seeking to improve is the Management Information System providing details of girocheque issues and losses. We are examining our systems to determine the detail we require to combat girocheque fraud. The decision on what information we collate centrally and subsequent implementation will be made after considering the costs involved and usefulness of such information.I hope you find this reply helpful.