---

Northern Ireland Office;Social Security Agency

Answer

Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage increase in 1996 of reissues of girocheques (a) in total and (b) by social security office that involved losses to her Department; and if she will make a statement. [13021] Mr. Worthington: Responsibility for the subject has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Chris Thompson. I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given. Letter from Chris Thompson to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 31 October 1997: I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the percentage increase, in 1996, of re-issues of girocheques. The percentage increase in 1996-97 of re-issued girocheques to benefit customers in Northern Ireland which led to losses to the Department of Health and Social Services was 16.9 per cent. This percentage excludes 234 re-issues in 1995-96 and 982 re-issues in 1996-97 which are still under investigation. The percentage change for each Social Security Office is given in the attached table. The main reason for the increase between 1995-96 and 1996-97 is that from November 1995, procedures in the Social Security Agency were brought in line with those of the Benefits Agency in Great Britain to reflect the legal position. Case law in Great Britain on the treatment of claims and payments places the burden of proof on the Department to show that the customer has received benefit from an instrument of payment which has been lost or stolen. This means that the Social Security Agency cannot delay in making a replacement payment, for example, to await the trace encashment of the original girocheque. Within this procedure, all reasonable practical precautions are of course taken before a payment is reissued. The Agency attaches much importance to the prevention of fraud and the use of taxpayers' money and, taking account of the concern expressed, is reviewing its existing procedures. I hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require. Number of girocheques re-issued with losses _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Issuing office 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1 April 1996 to 31 March Increase/ Percentage 1996 Loss 1997 Loss decrease Antrim SSO 25 32 +7 +28 Armagh SSO 24 23 -1 -4 Ballymena SSO 34 60 +26 +76.4 Ballymoney SSO 8 15 +7 +87.5 Ballynahinch SSO 4 5 +1 +25 Banbridge SSO 4 12 +8 +200 Bangor SSO 36 64 +28 +77.8 Carrickfergus SSO 19 67 +48 +252.6 Coleraine SSO 40 60 +20 +50 Cookstown SSO 7 18 +11 +157.1 Downpatrick SSO 41 24 -17 -41.5 Dungannon SSO 30 34 +4 +13.3 Enniskillen SSO 19 36 +17 +89.5 Foyle SSO 178 213 +35 +19.7 Headquarters 58 57 -1 -1.7 Kilkeel SSO 1 4 +3 +300 Larne SSO 12 16 +4 +33.3 Limavady SSO 36 35 -1 -2.8 Lisburn SSO 35 30 -5 -14.3 Lisnagelvin SSO 28 47 +19 +67.9 Lurgan SSO 22 23 +1 +4.5 Magherafelt SSO 3 10 +7 +233.3 Newcastle SSO 14 6 -8 -57.1 Newry SSO 82 73 -9 -11 Newtownards SSO 43 38 -5 -11.6 Omagh SSO 24 40 +16 +66.7 Portadown SSO 31 33 +2 +6.5 Strabane SSO 35 54 +19 +54.3 Andersonstown SSO 138 195 +57 +41.3 Corporation Street SSO 241 242 +1 +0.4 Falls Road SSO 157 144 -13 -8.3 Holywood Road SSO 79 58 -21 -26.6 Knockbreda SSO 32 32 0 0 Newtownabbey SSO 30 49 +19 +63.3 Shaftesbury Square SSO 95 69 -26 -27.4 Shankill Road SSO 89 132 +43 +48.3 Total 1,754 2,050 +296 +16.9 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

13021; 300 c202-4W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Northern Ireland Payments Social security benefits

Contains statistics

Yes