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27 May 2004 : Column 1807W—continued
Pension/Benefit Fraud
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he has taken to eliminate (a) pension and (b) housing benefit fraud. [174997]
Mr. Pond: We are committed to driving down levels of fraud and error in the benefits system.
A service delivery agreement was introduced to reduce loss from fraud and error in minimum income guarantee/pension credit by 20 per cent. by March 2006. The latest figures for minimum income guarantee were published in the national statistical report, "Fraud and Error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance from April 2002 to March 2003"; a copy is available in the Library.
The report shows that loss from fraud and error is falling, with a 17 per cent. reduction in fraud and error between April 2002 and March 2003 against the baseline, and a reduction in fraud alone of 45 per cent.
Data-matching with the Inland Revenue on savings and contributions to occupational pension schemes identifies income that may not have been reported; additionally information on other savings products such as individual savings accounts will become available for data matching later this year. These measures are equally applicable to the detection of fraud in relation to pension credit which replaced minimum income guarantee in October 2003.
The Government have set a challenging target to reduce fraud and error in housing benefit for working age people. We are working with local authorities to achieve a 25 per cent. reduction by March 2006, and the total amount available to spend on tackling fraud and
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error in housing benefit in the three years from 2003 to 2006 is £420 million. The Department published "Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit, April 2002 to March 2003" on 11 December 2003. This report represents the first national headline estimates for the level of fraud and error in housing benefit; a copy is available in the Library.
Latest figures show that, in the last three years, local authorities have increased the number of prosecutions and sanctions for benefit fraud by more than 500 per cent. In 2003–04, local authorities carried out 2,667 prosecutions and issued 6,289 cautions and penalties.
The Verification Framework is intended to detect and prevent fraudulent claims and sets a minimum standard of evidence needed for a claim to be assessed. Of the 348 authorities which have received funds to implement the Verification Framework scheme, 301 are fully compliant, with a further 37 being compliant in at least one of the modules. Verification Framework funding of £224 million has been made available for the three years from April 2003, with an additional £8 million being made available to local authorities to assist them with the change from the current VF scheme to a new regime introduced in April 2004.
From 5 April 2004, the Department is providing local authorities with monthly data-matching and risk based reviews via the Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS). This will enable local authorities to identify fraud and error at an earlier stage than in the past, ensuring that any overpayments are kept to a minimum.
Pensioners
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Scotland receive council tax benefit. [176492]
Mr. Pond: As at May 2002, there were 284,000 pensioner households receiving council tax benefit in Scotland, including 340,000 beneficiaries aged 60 or over.
Notes:
1. Pensioner households are defined as benefit units (which may be a single person or a couple) where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
2. Beneficiaries are defined as claimants and partners who are aged 60 or over.
3. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
4. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
5. Council tax benefit totals exclude any second adult rebate cases.
Source:
Housing benefit and council tax benefit annual summary statistics, May 2002.
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of over-payments to pensioners in each year since 1997. [175753]
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Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
| Volume | Value (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 111,599 | 26,074,886 |
| 2000–01 | 140,795 | 42,333,932 |
| 2001–02 | 201,260 | 87,619,329 |
| 2002–03 | 156,189 | 58,192,614 |
| 2003–04 | 149,554 | 51,428,186 |
Notes:
1. Records are not available prior to 1999–2000.
2. Data for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is based on overpayments of Attendance Allowance and Retirement Pension.
3. From 2001, data includes Income Support paid to claimants over the age of 65.
4. From 2003, overpayments of Pension Credit are included.
Source:
Central Debt Management System
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures are in place to enable pensioners who have been over-paid to pay sums back to the Department. [175754]
Malcolm Wicks: There are various procedures in place to enable pensioners who have been overpaid to repay sums to the Department. The method of repayment will depend on the particular circumstances of the case; our aim being to recover the money in a cost effective manner without causing unnecessary hardship to the customer.
Customers are notified of an overpayment and given one calendar month to pay the amount in full or to arrange payment by instalment. The notification includes full details of how to repay, how to appeal and how to get further help and advice.
Where the customer is not able to repay the amount in a single lump sum, payment by instalments can be negotiated. As the majority of pensioners receive payments from the Department, the preferred method of recovery by instalments is through direct deduction from their entitlement.
Both lump sum and instalment payments can also be made by Cheque, Postal Order, Girobank, Transcash, Direct Debit, Switch or Delta.
Seasonal Fruit Pickers
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what standards his Department has in place to cover regimes of temporary accommodation sites housing seasonal fruit pickers. [175444]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 24 May 2004]: The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 set specific requirements about the safety of gas systems in accommodation that is provided for an occupant who is not the owner of that accommodation.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places general requirements on all work activity to be performed in a way that does not jeopardise the health and safety of the workers involved, or people affected by work activity. Those general requirements could apply to work that is done to maintain or repair temporary accommodation and hence offer some further protection to those using this type of accommodation.
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Shanklin Jobcentre
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent in the last 12 months, and how much is planned to be spent in the next 12 months, on upgrading premises and equipment at Shanklin Jobcentre. [176365]
Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Andrew Turner, dated 27 May 2004:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning how much money has been spent on upgrading the premises and equipment at Shanklin Jobcentre in the last 12 months and plans for expenditure in the next 12 months. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Shanklin Jobcentre has not required any works in the last 12 months other than routine maintenance; therefore no monies have been spent on upgrading the building. However, in line with the national programme of upgrading the IT systems in all offices, Shanklin Jobcentre's IT system has been upgraded. We are unable to give the precise cost involved as it was funded from the national programme.
Due to the current roll-out plans of Jobcentre Plus services to the Isle of Wight we have no plans for expenditure over the next 12 months.
I hope this is helpful.
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