§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how the 30 per cent. penalty for minor fraud is collected; what is the cash value of penalties imposed to date; and how much has been collected. [79225]
§ Mr. TimmsQuestions relating to Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of its Chief Executive, Peter Mathison. He will reply to my right hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Frank Field, dated 29 March 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how the 30 per cent. penalty for minor fraud is collected, what the cash value of the penalties imposed to date is, and how much has been collected.An administrative penalty is recovered by exactly the same methods as those used to recover the related overpaid benefits. Recovery of an administrative penalty does not commence until the related overpayment has been recovered. The total value of administrative penalties that have been imposed to date is £246,187.Information about the amount collected is not currently available. Enhancements to the system for recording this information have been requested and it is hoped they will be in place by July 1999.I hope you find this reply helpful.