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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the units in his Department or its agencies whose primary function is (a) counter fraud policy work and (b) fraud investigation and detection. [22893] Malcolm Wicks: We set out our strategy for tackling fraud and error in the paper--A New Contract for Welfare: Safeguarding Social Security (CM 4276)-- published on 23 March 1999. The overall aim of the strategy is to have a benefit system which is secure from first claim to final payment. The implementation of this strategy means that an anti-fraud focus is integral to the work of the whole Department, as is dealing with the wider agenda of error and incorrectness in benefit payments. However, there are specific units whose primary function is counter-fraud policy work and fraud investigation and detection. The Fraud Strategy Unit manages the setting and dissemination of fraud policy for the Department's Agencies. In addition the Fraud Head of Profession (through the Professional Standards Unit) sets standards for operational activity and manages guidance and training for investigators in the Department's Agencies. There are 14 groups of investigators in the Department. Serious and organised fraud is addressed by the Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service. This is the operational arm of the Counter-Fraud Investigation Branch, led by the Head of Profession, which includes other units concerned with intelligence, joint working and professional standards. In addition, each of the 13 Area Directors in the Benefits Agency manages a resource of investigators known collectively as the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service (in Scotland, the Benefits Investigation Service).

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

377 c682-3W;377 c685-6W; 22893

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Abuse Executive agencies Fraud Social security benefits Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk