Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 July 2007. It was answered by James Plaskitt (Labour) on Monday, 1 October 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals convicted of benefit fraud in the last 12 months had (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more previous convictions.

Answer: I have been asked to replyDWP only keeps records of benefit fraud convictions. These records commenced in April 2002 to support the Loss of Benefit Provisions legislation (Two Strikes) introduced by the Social Security Fraud Act 2001, and information is kept for five years in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.Our records show that of 6,061 benefit fraud convictions recorded between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2007, there were 66 convictions for a second benefit fraud offence and one conviction for a third benefit fraud offence.

Secondary information