HC Deb 18 February 1998 vol 306 c747W
Ms Stuart

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her Department's Appropriation Accounts 1996–97, what steps she proposes to reduce the amount of benefit fraud with particular reference to fraud on income support. [25733]

Mr. Denham

Tackling fraud and abuse is a top priority for the Government. However, questions on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Gisela Stuart, dated 17 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the steps she proposes to reduce benefit fraud. The Benefit Agency's aim is to create a secure benefit regime administered by staff committed to providing secure and accurate services for customers who in turn recognise their rights and responsibilities. Underpinning this aim is the Security and Control Programme (SCP) which is funded on an invest to save basis. Forty-five individual projects and initiatives are currently being funded by the SCP to tackle the problem of benefit fraud in all benefits, including Income Support. The long term aim is to shift the emphasis from fraud detection to prevention and deterrence whilst maintaining a comprehensive investigative capability. These initiatives include, increased visits and reviews on new and existing claims to benefit; increased vigilance and checks on personal details at the outset of processing claims; risk analysis to identify client groups which pose the potential to commit fraud; a programme of datamatching to identify duplicate and bogus claims; and a free and confidential telephone hotline service for general public to report suspected benefit fraud. The department is currently re-examining its strategic counter-fraud objectives, and work is going forward aimed at supporting the Government's objectives for welfare reform, with a greater emphasis placed on risk management, use of information, effective measurement and behavioural changes. These principles apply throughout the social security system and are the means by which we aim to achieve real and permanent reductions in the level of fraud. I hope you find this reply helpful.