§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of(a) monetary error and (b) fraud in (i) Income Support, (ii) Jobseeker's Allowance and (iii) Housing Benefit for each year since 1997. [7472]
§ Malcolm WicksOngoing estimates of the monetary value of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance are published in the series of reports "Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance" which are placed in the Library.
The latest estimate for the monetary value of fraud and error in Housing Benefit was published in the report "National Housing Benefit Accuracy Review 1997/98" which is also in the Library. In April this year we set up the Housing Benefit Review which will deliver an on-going measurement of fraud and error in Housing Benefit.