§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been convicted of benefit fraud in the UK during the last 12 months. [122075]
§ Mr. RookerThe number of people convicted of benefit fraud in the 12 months from April 1999 to March 2000 was 9,752. In the same period the Benefits Agency issued 5,594 cautions and 4,702 administrative penalties (Total 20,048).
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the scale of benefit fraud attributable to disability benefits and on action being taken to combat it. [121686]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 15 May 2000]: Latest figures show that 6.5 per cent. of claims to Invalid Care Allowance (ICA) and 1.5 per cent. of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) cases showed fraud.
Within the two main disability benefits—Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance—securing the gateway to the benefits and dealing with some claimants' failure to report changed circumstances are crucial to cutting the level of overpayment due to fraud and error. We are seeking better sources of evidence to substantiate claims. We are also ensuring that claimants know more about the purpose of these benefits and understand their responsibilities for reporting change. We shall achieve this by making direct contact with the claimant at the start of the claim and by checking at regular intervals to ensure that entitlement remains correct.