HC Deb 04 July 2003 vol 408 cc522-3W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the estimated cost of(a) council tax benefit fraud and (b) housing benefit fraud in Scotland was in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority; [119712]

(2) if he will estimate the cost of housing benefit fraud in Scotland, broken down by local authority, in each year since 1997; [119877]

(3) how many instances there were of council tax benefit fraud in Scotland, broken down by local authority, in each year since 1997; [119878]

(4) how many instances there were of housing benefit fraud in Scotland, broken down by local authority, in each year since 1997. [120134]

Mr. Pond

All the information requested is not available. However, the National Housing Benefit Accuracy Review of 1997–98 estimated that between 0.7per cent. and 2.9 per cent. housing benefit claims in Scotland were fraudulent in 1997–98, with a further 1.2 per cent. to 3.7 per cent. strongly suspected of fraud and 0.2 per cent. to 0.8 per cent. mildly suspected of fraud. These figures cannot be broken down to individual local authority level.

We have now begun, for the first time, an ongoing review of fraud and error in housing benefit. National estimates of fraud and error for 2002–03 are expected to be published in December 2003 with further, more detailed, analysis following in early 2004. However, the sample sizes used may allow estimates to be broken down to regional level but not local authority level. Due to improvements in methodology and definitions used in the Housing Benefit Review it is unlikely that meaningful comparisons will be able to be made with the 1997–98 Review.

Information on the cost of fraud and error is not available separately for council tax benefit. The measurement of fraud and error is complex and expensive and therefore it is concentrated on benefits with the highest expenditure and risk of loss, such as housing benefit. However, the measures that we are taking to fight fraud and error in housing benefit will also serve to improve the accuracy of council tax benefit.