§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent in respect of each means-tested benefit, on(a) benefit up take advertising and (b) anti-fraud advertising; in respect of these benefits, how many members of staff are involved in (i) benefit up-take initiatives and (ii) anti-fraud initiatives; and if he will make a statement. [6733]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownDuring the financial year 2000–01, £3.54 million was spent on the Minimum Income Guarantee take up advertising campaign as well as £8.12 million on other benefit awareness advertising campaigns and £4.25 million on employment programmes.
£6.15 million was spent during 2000–01 on the Targeting Fraud advertising campaign and £425,000 was spent on advertising the National Benefit Fraud Hotline, which includes the Shared Fraud Hotline pilot.
We aim to ensure that all people receive the benefits that they are entitled to and that these benefits are administered in a secure manner. This means that encouraging benefit take-up and tackling fraud in the benefit system are integral to the work of all staff within the Department.