Written question asked by Maria Fyfe (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 March 1999. It was answered by Hugh Bayley (Labour) on Thursday, 25 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 estimate he has made of the final out-turn figure for the Benefits Integrity Project in terms of net expenditure; and if he will estimate the amounts of (a) under and (b) over payments identified. - Includes figures and ref 8 March 1999 at 327 c16-7 and monthly statistical summaries held in the Library.

Answer: Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the final out-turn figure for the Benefit Integrity Project in terms of net expenditure; and if he will estimate the amounts of (a) under and (b) over payments identified. [78324] Mr. Bayley: Administrative costs for the year 1997-98 were £8.267 million. Current estimates of the costs for the year 1998-99 are £12.6 million. For the latest estimate of net programme savings, I refer my hon. Friend to my oral answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) on 8 March 1999, Official Report, columns 16-17. A breakdown of this estimate into underpayments and overpayments is not currently available, although underlying information on the amount of weekly Disability Living Allowance that groups of claimants on different rates of benefit have either gained or lost is provided in the monthly statistical summaries held in the Library. Final estimates for administrative and programme costs and savings associated with the Benefit Integrity Project will be calculated after the Project ends on 31 March 1999 and will be published in due course.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 78324; 328 c389W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: Disability living allowance Expenditure Overpayments Payments Benefit integrity project
Contains statistics: Yes