§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in each of the last five years how many national insurance numbers and accounts there were where a fraud was detected. [117704]
§ Mr. RookerThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
Since it was established in 1997, the Identity Fraud Unit has confirmed and recorded 1,314 false National Insurance numbers and accounts.
Title Date of publication Benefit Review (Income Support and Unemployment Benefit) Report on Methodology and Findings July 1995 Retirement Pension—Final Report March 1996 Invalid Care Allowance—Report on Main Study July 1996 Disability Living Allowance—Report on Main Study February 1997 Income Support—(Second Exercise) Report on Methodology and Findings July 1997 The Review of Child Benefit and Child Benefit (Lone Parent) 1996/97—Report on Methodology and Findings July 1998 Fraud and Error in Claims to Jobseeker's Allowance (Contributory)1 October 1998 The Results of Six Months of Area Benefit Review Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance (Income—Based)1 November 2000 The Results of the Area Benefit Review from April 1998 to March 1999 and Measurements for the Public Service Agreement Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance1 January 2000 1 These reports were published by the Government Statistical Service, the remainder were Departmental publications.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out for each counter-fraud programme funded by his Department and its agencies in the last five years(a) the annual cost and savings and (b) the cost and savings since the programme began. [118207]
§ Mr. RookerMeasures to stop and prevent fraud and error are all aimed at reducing the rate of overpayment. Their overall effect can be measured by reviewing representative samples of cases in payment, as we do to track progress towards meeting our Public Service Agreement fraud target. It is not possible, however, to give a precise figure for the separate contribution made by each individual initiative because, for example, several initiatives may be directed towards addressing a single goal.