HC Deb 16 July 2002 vol 389 c266W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful prosecutions for fraud involving housing or council tax benefit were undertaken by local authorities in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [69859]

Malcolm Wicks

[holding answer 15 July 20021: For the number of successful prosecutions for benefit fraud I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer given to him on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 542W. Local authorities are not required to inform the Department of prosecutions which are subsequently abandoned or result in an acquittal.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by local authorities to investigate suspicions of fraud involving housing or council tax benefit in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000 and (d) 2000–01. [69861]

Malcolm Wicks

The information requested is in the table.

Average total number of fraud investigators (full-time or full-time equivalent) employed by local authorities
1997–98 1,990
1998–99 2,170
1999–00 2,140
2000–01 2,160

Note:

Information is not available for all 408 local authorities. The total includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.

Source:

Housing Benefit Management Information System

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