Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Monday, 19 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 April 2001. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 2 April 2001 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Havant of 14th March 2001 at 365 c606W, on national insurance numbers, how the new tests for national insurance numbers are more stringent. - (Holding answer 22 March 2001).

Answer: Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) of 14 March 2001, Official Report, column 606W, on national insurance numbers, how the new tests for national insurance numbers are more stringent. [154915] Mr. Rooker: [holding answer 22 March 2001]: We have aligned the process for both benefit and employment inspired applications for National Insurance Numbers (NINOs). All adult applicants will be interviewed by dedicated specially trained staff using investigative interviewing techniques. Pre interview questioning will take place prior to the specialist interview so that information can be validated. Post interview, the information given by an applicant in support of their application will be corroborated. Documentation supplied by an applicant will be scrutinised by specially trained staff using specialist equipment provided for this purpose. We have introduced a more stringent internal checking regime to ensure that a NINO application is valid and that the applicant does not already have a NINO. The introduction of dedicated staff will reduce the number of staff who have authority to create a NINO.

Secondary information