§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the estimates of Housing Benefit fraud detected, expressed is a proportion of Housing Benefit expenditure for each local authority for 1999–2000, will be released. [2261]
§ Malcolm WicksThe weekly benefit savings scheme provides a measure of benefit fraud detected by local authorities. A table providing the information requested expressed in terms of weekly benefit savings for the year 1999–2000 has been placed in the Library.
We have announced that the weekly benefit savings scheme is to be replaced by a new, more comprehensive anti-fraud incentive scheme which aims to provide greater financial rewards to authorities which uncover more fraud and prosecute fraudsters. The new incentive scheme will also make extra prevision for those local authorities who operate the Department's Verification Framework. 63 local authorities lave adopted the new scheme from April 2001 with the remaining local authorities switching to the new scheme from April 2002.