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Benefit Review
Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she will publish the results of the recent benefit review of income support; and if she will make a statement. [12472]
Mr. Denham: This Government take fraud against our social security system very seriously and are determined to reduce the level of fraud and abuse. Fraud is anti-social behaviour; assisting in the fight against fraud is an expression of responsible citizenship.
We have inherited a significant problem and this research underlines the need to review and evaluate existing measures. Work is in hand to re-examine the strategic objectives governing counter-fraud work throughout the Department. This will ensure that there is
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coherence between counter-fraud objectives and other policy and operational strategic objectives, in particular those aimed at controlling loss of programme expenditure.
All plans for the future will be based on making sure that the social security system is based on honesty, fairness and responsibility. We will also move towards a more systematic process of assessing risks to ensure that resources are targeted for maximum effect.
The level of fraud and abuse represents a serious problem which we are determined to consider carefully and respond to fully.
In order to establish the size of the problem on an ongoing basis the Benefits Agency is undertaking a five-year programme of reviews. This programme covers all the major social security benefits to measure in a statistically valid way the level of incorrectness, including fraud within the benefit stream.
A review of income support was carried out through visits and interviews with a random sample of 4,350 customers in autumn 1996 when a review of their benefit entitlement was completed.
The results of this review show that the majority of customers--79 per cent.--are entitled to the benefit at the rate they are receiving.
However, fraud or a high suspicion of fraud was found in just over 11 per cent. of cases representing estimated annual potential expenditure losses of £1.77 billion on income support.
We will be hosting a fraud seminar in September. This will involve high-level representatives from both inside and outside of Government. Private sector expertise will be brought alongside those already involved to exchange and develop ideas and experience to ensure that we are tackling the problem in the most effective manner.
Mr. Lilley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the impact on the uprating of the basic state weekly pension for (a) single person and (b) a couple of a 3 per cent. change in the value added tax rate on domestic fuel. [11789]
Mr. Denham:
The change in the VAT rate on domestic fuel will have no impact on the real value of the basic state pension.
We are committed to uprating the basic state pension at least in line with prices and will consider the uprating of benefits at the normal time and in the normal way.
All pensioners will benefit from the reduction in their fuel bills following the reduction in the VAT rate on domestic fuel from 8 to 5 per cent.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to exempt claimants of the industrial injuries disablement benefit from her proposed restrictions on backdating; and what procedures will be introduced to protect disabled people whose conditions are not immediately diagnosed. [11583]
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Mr. Keith Bradley:
Clause 70 of the Social Security Bill provides for the alignment of the time limits for the backdating of claims to benefit with the one month currently allowed for reviews. This provision is an integral part of modernising and streamlining the social security system. It will make the system easier to operate and simpler for people to understand. It will also underline the importance of people making their claims promptly.
The Social Security Bill also provides for regulations to prescribe exceptions to the one-month time limit. We are currently giving careful consideration to what, if any, circumstances there might be in which exceptions ought to apply.
People who qualify for industrial injuries benefits already receive a substantial preference in that their benefits are non-contributory and tax-free and are payable on top of any mainstream incapacity and disablement benefits to which they may also be entitled.
Mr. Ernie Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made by the Scottish Law Commission in its review of the feudal system.[12474]
Mr. Dewar:
The Government gave a manifesto commitment to initiate a study into land ownership and management in Scotland, including the options for removing the rights of feudal superiors.
The feudal system is anachronistic and makes conveyancing more expensive than it need be. It also allows unscrupulous superiors to charge excessive amounts for granting consent to alterations or changes of use of property.
I am therefore delighted that the Scottish Law Commission will be able to submit a report on the abolition of feudal tenure, with draft legislation in 1998--one year earlier than expected. At the same time, the commission will issue a discussion paper on related questions of real burdens. It will report on those questions by the end of 1999.
The effect of the two reports will be to sweep away superiorities, replace the feudal system with a system based on absolute ownership, and reform the law on real burdens.
The Government are committed to the introduction of legislation to abolish the feudal system as soon as we can after the commission reports. It may be necessary to carry out further consultations following publication of the reports, but I very much hope that the legislation will be one of the first reforms to be enacted by the Scottish Parliament. It would be most fitting if Scotland entered the new millennium not only with a new Parliament but with a completely modernised system of land tenure.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce which officials will conduct the review of hunting on Forestry Commission land. [7916]
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Mr. Chisholm:
The review of hunting on Forestry Commission land is an internal review which is being carried out by the Forestry commissioners and commission officials as a normal part of their duties.
Mr. Clifton-Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) for what reason a review of hunting on Forestry Commission land has been commenced; and when it will be conducted; [8837]
(3) which officials will be involved in the review of hunting on Forestry Commission land; [8838]
(4) when he expects to publish the results of the review of hunting on Forestry Commission land; [8834]
(5) how much he estimates the review of hunting on Forestry Commission land will cost the Forestry Commission. [8836]
Mr. Chisholm
[holding answer 22 July 1997]: Against the background of our manifesto commitment to allow a free vote on hunting, we have asked the Forestry commissioners to review their policy for hunting over commission land, and to advise us of their conclusions. This is an internal review which will not be published, but which will take full account of representations received. The review is being carried out by the Forestry commissioners and commission officials as a normal part of their duties and will not be costed separately. The commissioners aim to complete their review later this summer.
Mrs. Browning:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what factors led him to carry out a review of hunting on Forestry Commission land; [10281]
(3) who will give evidence to the review of hunting on Forestry Commission land. [10284]
Mr. Chisholm:
Against the background of our manifesto commitment to allow a free vote on hunting, we have asked the forestry commissioners to review their policy for hunting over commission land, and to advise us of their conclusions. This internal review is being carried out by the forestry commissioners and commission officials and will take full account of representations received.
Mr. Swinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much he has budgeted for expenditure on refurbishing (a) official residences occupied by Scottish Office Ministers and (b) Scottish Office properties. [7745]
Mr. Dewar
[holding answer 14 July 1997]: Under current public expenditure plans, total provision for refurbishment work over the next three years is as follows:
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Mr. Dewar
[holding answer 25 July 1997]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the House Library.
(2) who will be invited to give evidence to the Forestry Commissions review of hunting on Forestry Commission land; [8835]
(2) which officials will carry out a review of hunting on Forestry Commission land; [10282]
(a) Bute house, which provides occasional accommodation for Ministers--£35,000. This budget is for replacing some of the furniture originally provided on loan by the National Trust for Scotland as these pieces will be recalled by the original owners later this year.
(b) Scottish Office properties--£6,515,300. The figure excludes the operational assets of the Scottish Prison Service, the Scottish Court Service and Historic Scotland. Most of the expenditure in fact relates to the refurbishment of St. Andrew's House--£6 million.
Mr. Swinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 16 July, Official Report, column 220, if he will itemise the same expenditure plans including all changes announced since the publication of "Serving Scotland's Needs", including the itemised figures for each year from 1994-95 to 1999-2000 in cash and real terms at 1996-97 prices using the gross domestic product deflator; if he will set out the cumulative spending planned from 1997-98 to 1999-2000 under each item in real terms and the total cumulative spending, assuming that spending is maintained at 1996-97 real-term levels; and if he will indicate the difference between the two cumulative totals. [10271]
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