§ 14. Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to tackle fraudulent social security claims. [19712]
§ Mr. HealdOur strategy, including the additional measures announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Security on 5 March,Official Report, columns 164–68, is set to save the taxpayer £1.5 billion next year.
§ 18. Mr. DayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what incentives he is giving local authorities to combat fraud. [19716]
§ Mr. HealdLocal authorities are rewarded for successfully detecting housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud through the anti-fraud financial incentive scheme. The scheme allows authorities to earn additional cash subsidy through successful detection of fraud, as measured against their weighted share of a national threshold. I am stepping up the incentives by ear-marking £8 million for challenge funding to encourage innovation 173W in fighting fraud, strengthening the financial regime by providing higher rates of return for better performing authorities, and increasing the penalties for those which are failing to tackle fraud seriously.
§ 20. Miss HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been prosecuted as a result of Operation Rattle. [19718]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo date, there have not been any prosecutions as a result of Operation Rattle which was launched in November 1995.