§ Mr. McCabeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the inspection report of the benefit fraud inspectorate in respect of Kingston upon Hull city council. [160725]
§ Mr. RookerThe benefit fraud inspectorate (BFI) has produced an assessment report in respect of Kingston upon Hull city council. The report was published today and copies have been placed in the Library.
The inspection coincided with my right hon. Friend's announcement on the setting up of an Expert Help Team to help local authorities improve their benefit administration. The council offered to be the first local authority to work with the expert help team.
BFI therefore produced a short assessment report to help the council identify the extent of deficiencies in key areas of benefit administration and security, and to help inform the focus of the expert help to teams visit.
People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) subject to disallowances or sanctions as at 30 November 2000 Thousand Sanction/disallowance type All claimants JSA (IB) in payment on hardship grounds No JSA in payment All cases 27.5 6.0 21.6 Disallowed—availability for work/not actively seeking employment 0.6 10.1 0.6 Sanctions for failure to comply with New Deal requirements 0.5 — 0.5 All other sanctions/disallowance 26.4 5.9 20.5 1Figure is subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used only as a guide to the current situation Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred
Sources:
Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2000
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 2000
As at 30 November 2000 there were 12,100 people claiming Income Support with a reduction in benefit due to their failure to supply the CSA with the name of the father of their child(ren).