HC Deb 08 May 2001 vol 368 c5W
Mr. McCabe

To 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. Rooker

The 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).