§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, (1) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Swinney) of 5 May 1998,Official 546W Report, columns376–77, concerning the Benefit Integrity Project, what timescale the review is working to; and when she will be in a position to report its outcome; [45116]
(2) if she will list the operational and legal issues that have prevented a review of Benefit Integrity Project cases prior to 9 February. [45115]
§ Mr. DenhamThe purpose of the Benefit Integrity Project is to collect up to date information from claimants receiving the higher rate of the mobility component, with either the highest or middle rate of the care component, to ensure they are receiving their correct entitlement. On 9 February, an additional safeguard was introduced to ensure that there is always independent evidence to support a decision to reduce or remove benefit. From that date, the new safeguard has been applied to all initial Project decisions and to cases where a review has been requested.
The safeguard was introduced because of concerns that some disabled people may not have understood fully what was required of them and, as a result, had not provided a complete picture of the help they need with personal care and mobility.
Representations have been received from the All Party Disablement Group and others that all decisions made without the benefit of the new procedures introduced on 9 February should be reviewed. We have already made it clear to the House that we are currently considering how to examine those cases where the claimant has not asked for a review of a decision, made before 9 February, to reduce or remove benefit and no independent additional evidence was submitted. We are considering what action should be taken on the 2,400 or so such cases.