§ 29. Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what targets she has set for the reduction of the levels of benefit fraud over the next five years. [47499]
§ Mr. FieldThe Government are committed to tough action to stop social security fraud. We are currently reviewing all existing counter fraud arrangements to ensure they meet the Government's strategic objective of working towards a permanent, structural reduction in benefit fraud. Our approach contains three elements;404W improved detection, more effective deterrence and better prevention. We have not set a numerical target for the reduction in the level of benefit fraud over the next five years.