HC Deb 06 November 2000 vol 356 cc95-6W
Mr. Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reason the Central Recovery Group failed to meet its estimates of revenue recovery in each of the last three years. [135479]

Angela Eagle

The administration of benefits is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my right hon. Friend.

Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Frank Field, dated 6 November 2000: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking for what reason the Central Recovery Group failed to meet its estimates of revenue recovery in each of the last three years. The table below sets out the Central Recovery Group's overpayment recovery targets for the past three years, as set by the Department on behalf of the Secretary of State, and their achievement against those targets.

£ million
Year Target Performance
1997–98 10.3 10.4
1998–99 12.8 15.3
1999–2000 16.9 19.1

You will note that they have exceeded their target each year.

I hope this is helpful.