Benefit Fraud (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Hansard, 21 March 2001)

HC Deb 21 March 2001 vol 365 c268W 268W

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of tackling benefit fraud in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire since 1 May 1997. [154649]

§ Mr. Rooker
After years of neglect, we have implemented an effective strategy for dealing with Social Security fraud. Figures are not available for the areas requested but nationally we have already made a 6.7 per cent. reduction in the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. This is the first significant reduction.
We are on course to meet our first target, of a 10 per cent. reduction in fraud and error, well ahead of the scheduled date in 2002.