Benefit Fraud

HC Deb 21 January 2002 vol 378 cc624-5W

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the reformed Child Support Agency has a section dedicated to counter fraud work; and what the budget is of that section for the first year of operation. [22892]

Malcolm Wicks

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my right hon. Friend.

Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Frank Field, dated 10 January 2002: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply. Mr. Smith is unavailable and therefore I am writing to you on his behalf. You asked if the reformed Child Support Agency has a section dedicated to counter fraud work; and what the budget is of that section for the first year of operation. We have set up sections dedicated to counter fraud as part of the implementation of changes to child support legislation. These units investigate cases where individuals appear to have deliberately provided incorrect or misleading information. They also consider cases where information might properly be referred for investigation elsewhere. The budget for this section in its first year was £3.5 million. I hope this is helpful.

Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the extent of benefit fraud through the use of bank accounts set up by members or supporters of Shariah and Al Muhajaroon. [26772]

Malcolm Wicks

We are implementing our strategy to tackle fraud and error by tightening up the system and making sure that, from the first claim, the right benefits are going to the right people. Due to the nature of fraud, it is not possible to give an estimate of the level of fraud committed by particular groups or their supporters.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent in total on the Targeting Fraud website. [27760]

Malcolm Wicks

It is not possible to provide a specific cost for the Targeting Fraud website, as it was built and is maintained on the departmental web server from existing resources.