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Benefit Fraud

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department has saved through reducing social security fraud in the last year; and what are the estimates for the forthcoming year. [35481]

Mr. Heald: In 1995-96 the Benefits Agency saved an estimated £715.6 million through detection and prevention of fraud against a target of £680 million. This figure excludes the estimated savings achieved through the security and control programme, which have yet to be finalised.

The target for social security fraud savings during 1996-97 is £1.5 billion. This includes savings from the merged Benefits Agency, Employment Service

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investigation service, organised fraud investigation and security initiatives within the security and control programme.

Child Support Agency

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list for each of the years since the office was opened the total revenue collected by the Child Support Agency office in Dudley; [36332]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ann Chant to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 12 July 1996:


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Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if representatives of the Office of the Data Protection Registrar are attending, or have been asked to attend meetings with representatives of (a) the Child Support Agency, the DSS and (b) the Information Technology Services Agency to discuss major upgrading or replacement of the current EDS Ltd. child support computer system. [36174]

Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 12 July 1996:


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Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the Child Support Agency's policy on retaining data about clients on the child support computer system after those clients' cases have been officially closed; [36184]

Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 12 July 1996:


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Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what would be the costs of modifying the original Child Support Agency computer system to accommodate the proposed departures system and other regulatory changes; [36176]

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if representatives of the office of the Data Protection Registrar (a) have been invited to meet or (b) have met representatives of (i) the Child Support Agency, (ii) the Department of Social Security and (iii) the Information Technology Services Agency to discuss major upgrading or replacement of the current child support computer system. [36862]

Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

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Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 12 July 1996:



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