§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were the subject of rolling reviews in each of the last five years in determining the level of fraud in jobseeker's allowance and income support. [36254]
§ Malcolm WicksThe total number of sample cases has been around 30,000 since the start of the area benefit review programme. The number for each reporting period is in the table.
The smaller sample size for 2001–02 was introduced as part of the move to a common sample for determining levels of fraud and customer error, and official error. The smaller sample size for 2002–03 is a result of the Department restructuring from 13 areas to 11 Government office regions. Neither of these reductions in sample size will result in a reduction in the confidence levels of the reported results.
Income support/jobseeker's allowance review Reporting period Sample Size October 1997 to September 1998 31,200 April 1998 to March 1999 31,200 April 1999 to March 2000 31,200 April 2000 to March 2001 31,200 April 2001 to March 2002 27,333 April 2002 to March 2003 26,900 Source:
Area benefit reviews