§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the proportion of all benefit payments in 1997–98 which were accurate. [73940]
§ Mr. TimmsThe figures used for reporting the accuracy of individual benefits to Parliament are reported to agreed levels of statistical confidence. The request to
estimate the proportion of all benefit payments in 1997–98 which was accuratemeans providing a figure which does not carry statistical confidence. Bearing this in mind, it is estimated that 93.4 per cent. of recipients received accurate payments of benefit in 1997–98.