Written question asked by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 June 1998. It was answered by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 1998 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if she will comment as to the scale of the use of bogus national insurance numbers in the claiming of benefits.

Answer: Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement as to the scale of the use of bogus national insurance numbers in the claiming of benefits. [46411] Mr. Field: National Insurance numbers play a key role in identifying individual accounts held on DSS and Inland Revenue systems. Under the previous administration, the Social Security Select Committee identified a number of concerns about the security of national insurance numbers. The Government are now taking action to improve the security of the way numbers are issued and maintained. This work is at an early stage, and will provide us with the best assessment of the scale of the use of bogus numbers in the claiming of benefit.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 314 c620-1W; 46411
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Abuse Applications Fraud National insurance Social security Social security benefits