§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of the disability living allowance awards re-examined as part of the Benefit Integrity Project up to 31 December have been referred to a fraud officer; and of those how many have been(a) recommended for prosecution, (b) prosecuted for fraud and (c) cleared of fraud; [29180]
(2) how many (a) terminally-ill people receiving payments under Special Rules, (b) paraplegics, (c) quadriplegics, (d) people who are both deaf and blind, (e) double amputees and (f) people who fall within the Benefits Agency's definition of severe mental impairment have been mistakenly included in the Benefit Integrity Project to date. [29181]
§ Mr. DenhamOne of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. Benefits should go to those who are properly entitled to benefit. This is why we have continued with Benefit Integrity Project.
The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 12 February 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions regarding the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP).
pre-August August September October November Total Double Amputees 5 1 1 0 2 9 Deaf and Blind 4 0 1 2 0 7 Severe Mental Impairment 3 3 8 1 0 15 Quadriplegics 126 76 15 11 6 234 Special Rules 3 13 2 10 2 30 Paraplegics (includes Tetraplegics) 67 13 11 13 4 108 Total 208 106 38 37 14 403 Note:
Figures are provisional and subject to change.