To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of national insurance numbers which were used for fraudulent purposes in each of the last five years. (102139)

We have robust checks in place to prevent national insurance numbers being used fraudulently and to protect the benefit systems against identity fraud.

Where a national insurance number has been identified as having been used for fraudulent purposes, a mark is put on the national insurance number account. If any activity occurs on the account, a report is issued to the National Identity Fraud Unit (NIFU) within three days advising what activity has taken place.

If NIFU are advised of a NINO being used by another person, the account is classed as vulnerable and is flagged as having a NIFU interest. If there is any benefit activity on that account, NIFU receive a report within three days of the activity. A report of suspected fraud is completed and this is sent to the Fraud Investigation Service Operational Intelligence Unit pertinent to the area within the UK. A decision will then be taken as to the appropriate type of investigation to be carried out. This can potentially lead to prosecution of the individual involved.

The available information regarding the number of marked accounts is in the table.