§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Minister is responsible for benefit identity cards; and what progress has been made with regard to their implementation. [50355]
§ Mr. FieldThere is no benefit identity card.
We are however concerned about fraud within the Social Security system. On some estimates benefit fraud could cost up to £7 billion a year. This is equivalent to an extra £10 a week to every single pensioner in the country. Or enough to cut the tax bill of every taxpaying household in the country by £435 a year.
I am therefore pleased to announce that we are today publishing a Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future" setting out our comprehensive anti-fraud strategy.
The Green Paper sets out the four key aims of the Government's strategy and lists what actions we are currently taking to achieve these goals; what further action we will be taking this year, next year and beyond.
The first aim is to develop an anti-fraud culture among staff and the public. We will be conducting a campaign to bring the scale and nature of fraud to people's attention to win public support for action to prevent the misuse of money which could go to those in real need. We will also build on the partnerships between the public and private sector to mount a joint crusade against fraud.
Our second aim is to design and operate systems which minimise fraud. We will be reviewing benefits to determine the extent to which they can be more effectively designed to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. We will also be seeking to prevent fraud through a more active management of new and continuing cases, as well as improved detection and more effective punishment of those who commit fraud.
Our third aim is to create an environment in which work against fraud can flourish, by improving systems for funding and performance measurement, and securing greater co-operation amongst all parties in anti-fraud in central, and local, government, and in public bodies.
78WOur fourth aim is to develop a highly skilled anti-fraud profession. We need a new professionalism to combat the ever increasing sophistication of the serious fraudster. We will build up a highly skilled anti-fraud profession with common training and accreditation, and codes of conduct.
For the first time there now exists a comprehensive cross-Government strategy against fraud rather than a piecemeal approach. We have timetabled our work in building up effective barriers to fraud. The Government are establishing a ministerial group under my chairmanship to help devise strategies to combat welfare fraud and safeguard taxpayers' money, and counter other forms of financial fraud affecting welfare services. We will also publish an annual Fraud Audit, describing our anti-fraud activities, estimates of the scale of fraud, and new policy initiatives.
The Government are committed to making a difference to the level of fraud as a key element of their plan to create a modern welfare state in which the people can have confidence. The Green Paper is the first staging post towards a benefit system which is more accurate, more fair, more efficient and more secure.