HC Deb 25 October 1999 vol 336 cc719-21W
21. Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve co-ordination between the Benefits Agency and local authorities in combating fraud. [93769]

Mr. Rooker

We are committed to reducing fraud and error in the benefits system. One key part of our strategy is to develop stronger links between the Benefits Agency (BA) and local authorities (LAs). Most recently, following testing of the electronic transfer of information between the BA and LA in Lewisham, we started to extend this facility to other LAs. Fourteen LAs are now piloting the system which we aim to roll out nationally from next April. In Lewisham, the evaluation indicated significant reductions in processing times and overpayments. We have also introduced a national liaison service level agreement (SLA) and a specific fraud SLA, both of which are mandatory on BA and strongly endorsed by the LA Associations.

£6 million has been allocated to BA Area Directors to fund joint working initiatives which identify an activity or programme that enhances the liaison between the BA and the LA and through that liaison will combat fraud and error in the benefit system.

25. Mr. Forth

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he last reviewed his target for the reduction of benefit fraud for the year 1999–2000. [93774]

Mr. Rooker

As published in the Public Service Agreement, for the first time we have set a single outcome target to reduce fraud and error in the two major benefits by 30 per cent. by March 2007, with at least a 10 per cent. reduction by March 2002.

Mr. Lilley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many calls have been received by the Benefit Fraud Hotline in each month since it was established. [93642]

Mr. Rooker

The information is as follows:

National Benefit Fraud Hotline calls answered from 5 August 1996
Calls answered
Calendar month 1996 1997 1998 1999
January — 17,981 17,206 13,925
February — 27,075 15,780 13,798
March — 27,073 15,345 16,901
April — 18,563 19,007 11,996
May — 19,272 13,149 11,303
June — 16,272 13,692 13,415
July — 18,808 15,512 10,491
August 35,179 14,755 11,104 10,336
September 26,736 16,236 13,694 12,971
October 28,257 13,202 12,805 —
November 21,805 11,770 14,285 —
December 11,989 10,829 12,160 —

Note:

Approximately 2 per cent. of all calls ring off before the call is answered.

Mr. Lilley

To ask Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the places in which and dates on which Searchlight on Fraud investigations have taken place since they were started. [93641]

Mr. Rooker

The Spotlight On Fraud campaign commenced on 1 April 1996. Certain areas of the country were subject to intensive counter fraud activity over a short period. The campaign consisted of three phases:

Phase 1: 1 April 1996 to 15 August 1996

  • Nottingham
  • Glasgow
  • Westminster
  • Leeds
  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Lancaster and Barrow
  • Isle of Wight
  • Plymouth
  • Cardiff
  • Great Yarmouth
  • Brighton
  • Medway Towns
  • Edinburgh
  • Haringey and Enfield
  • Croydon
  • Rhyl
  • Darlington
  • Redcar and East Cleveland

Phase 2: 4 November 1996 to 29 November 1996

  • Wigan and Leigh
  • Warrington
  • Sheffield
  • Newport
  • Luton
  • Leicester
  • Lea Roding
  • Inverness
  • Hull
  • Exeter
  • Coventry
  • Coatbridge
  • Clydebank and Dumbarton
  • Canterbury and Thanet

Phase 3: 3 February 1997 to 28 February 1997

  • Wolverhampton
  • Westminster
  • West Kent
  • Peterborough
  • Nottingham
  • Newcastle
  • Kirklees
  • Kirkaldy
  • Darlington