§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of confirmed cases of benefit fraud among residents of care homes there were in 1997–98; [53818]
(2) to what extent care homes are targeted in his Department's measures to combat benefit fraud; [53820]
(3) what measures his Department is taking to combat benefit fraud among residents of care homes. [53819]
§ Mr. DenhamTackling fraud and abuse is a top priority for the Government. Operational issues are the responsibility of Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 30 July 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning benefit fraud among residents of care homes.The information is not available in the format requested. In 1997/98 Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service (BASIS) who concentrate on serious attacks on the benefit system by organised criminals carried out 1,742 successful investigations. In the same period Benefit Fraud Investigation Service (BFIS) who deal with locally based fraud investigations carried out 547,000 successful investigations. Figures are not broken down to collate by type of benefit claimant such as by resident of care home.The BFIS investigates fraud within the benefit system. Investigation takes place when a suspicion of fraud exists, for example following receipt information that a benefit claimant has not disclosed employment or where a benefit recipient's circumstances change (for example going into care) and the BA is not informed. Enquiries are also made of employers including those of care homes where there is suspicion that employees may be committing benefit fraud. Care homes are not specifically targeted in these types of enquiries.The BA is undertaking a range of projects and initiatives all of which are designed to achieve a sustained reduction in the level of fraud across the benefit system. Suspicion of fraud by residents of care homes would be investigated by the BA professionally and sensitively. The Government's recent Green Paper "Beating Fraud is Everyone's Business: Securing the Future" sets out a comprehensive strategy for tackling fraud in the wider context of welfare reform.I hope you find this reply helpful.