Written question asked by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Monday, 22 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 March 1999. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 8 March 1999 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, What assessment he has made of the progress being made to combat housing benefit fraud. (Failed OPQ). - Includes figure.

Answer: Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to minimise fraud in the administration of housing benefit. [73053] Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the progress being made to combat housing benefit fraud. [73070] Mr. Timms: We are committed to making all benefits secure against fraud and error. We will do this by getting payments right from the outset and by keeping them right for as long as the benefit is payable. For those cases which do go wrong, we will put them right promptly. We have made substantial progress in applying this approach to Housing Benefit. For example, we have made an extra £100 million available over the next three years for the Verification Framework. This will enable all councils to check Housing Benefit claims more thoroughly.

Secondary information