§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the progress of the DLA/Benefit Integrity Project in the Hereford constituency. [40775]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Benefit Integrity Project aims to ensure that those in receipt of DLA are entitled to it. While it is right to check that people are receiving the correct amount of benefit, we are determined that those checks should be undertaken as sensitively as possible. Also, we should ensure all decisions taken as a result of the project are right. We have, therefore, acted to546W introduce an extra safeguard to improve the quality of, and the confidence in, benefit decisions made by the project.
The administration of the Benefit Integrity Project is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 21 May 1998.
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for a statement on the progress of the Disability Living Allowance Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) in the Hereford constituency.Information on the BIP is not available in the format requested. To provide geographical information routinely would incur high costs and disrupt the processing of ongoing casework.As at 31 March 1998, a total of 172,026 cases, including 27,991 renewal cases, have been selected for action under the BIP. A total of 72,470 cases have been examined. Of the total cases dealt with 1,699 have resulted in an increase in benefit, 56,272 have remained unchanged, 9,168 have resulted in a reduction in benefit and 5,331 have resulted in benefit being stopped.The total includes 14,815 renewal cases, of which 462 have resulted in an increase in benefit, 7,633 have remained unchanged, 3,992 have resulted in a reduction in benefit and 2,728 have resulted in benefit being stopped.A monthly statistical report can be found in the House of Commons Library.I hope that this is helpful.