HL Deb 26 February 2002 vol 631 cc231-2WA
Lord Hardy of Wath

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Rother District Council. [HL2962]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham

The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report was published today in respect of Rother District Council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

Inspectors found that the council needs to improve on its performance and address weaknesses to provide an effective and secure gateway to the benefits system. The council welcomed the inspection as an opportunity to review and improve its benefits services and expressed a commitment to improve the efficiency, security and integrity of its service.

The report identifies a lack of consistency in evidence gathering and verifying claims and details a number of reasons for this including a failure to promote benefits, an inadequate telephone service, a poorly designed claim form, the lack of a benefits visiting team and inadequate training of staff. Improvements are also recommended for the processes for handling renewal claims and reported changes in circumstances to ensure that claims are free from fraud and error. The council's approach to identifying and providing staff training was found to be inadequate.

A further area of concern was the classification of overpayments, and the BFI makes recommendations to ensure fraud and error is detected at an early stage to keep overpayments to a minimum. The council was found to have effective systems for investigating fraud and recovering benefit overpayments. Internal and external audit's provision of a robust and effective audit service gives some assurance for the security of the benefits system.

Rother District Council is a good example of an authority responding positively and effectively to weaknesses identified by the BFI and thus providing a more secure and accurate benefits service to its community. The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.