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Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Volume 460: debated on Tuesday 22 May 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent measures he has taken to reduce fraudulent claims for benefits. (137898)

Since 1997, the Department has developed and implemented a comprehensive strategy for reducing fraud. Our strategy is working—the latest National Statistics report published on 1 February 2007 estimated that, across all benefits, around £0.7 billion (0.6 per cent. of benefit expenditure) was overpaid in 2005-06 due to benefit fraud. This is down from an estimated £2 billion (2.0 per cent. of benefit expenditure) in 2001. We are determined to continue building on this success in the future by, for example, trying new data matching initiatives with credit reference agencies.