Written question asked by Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 December 2009. It was answered by John Healey (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 December 2009 on behalf of the Audit Commission.

Councillors: Fraud

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 15 June 2009, Official Report, column 17W, on councillors, how many cases of housing benefit fraud by councillors have been identified as a result of the National Fraud Initiative of the Audit Commission.

Answer: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission, and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 16 December 2009:"Parliamentary Question: with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 15 June 2009, Official Report, column 17W, on councillors, how many cases of housing benefit fraud by councillors have been identified as a result of the National Fraud Initiative of the Audit Commission.""Your Parliamentary Question outlined above has been passed to me to reply. I am afraid that we are unable to answer your question as the data submitted does not automatically allow the Audit Commission to distinguish between employees and councillors. This is because the payroll details do not contain the status of the individual.""A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard."

Secondary information