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Lord Hutton of Furness
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Hutton of Furness, Lord (39)
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I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman heard the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands), but fraud in respect of income support is falling sharply and we are determined to make further progress. In that regard, I am happy to say that this Administration has a far better record of dealing with these problems than the Administration to which the hon. Gentleman lent his support.
I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman heard the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands), but fraud in respect of income support is falling sharply and we are determined to make further progress. In that regard, I am happy to say that this Administration has a far better record of dealing with these problems than the Administration to which the hon. Gentleman lent his support.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
David TC Davies
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Does the Minister agree that if he wants to find examples of fraud or criminal activity, he could try to ensure that the DWP runs proper checks to ensure that those claiming income support are not among the thousands who have disappeared from open prisons over the last few years and are not living out in the wild somewhere like Australian bushmen, but are back at their home addresses, no doubt living off the benefits that they received before they were convicted of breaking laws in the first place?
Subjects
Crime prevention; Fraud; Income support
Date
23 April 2007
Reference
459 c640
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My understanding is that inquiries have been made into whether fraud or criminal activity has taken place. We have not found any evidence yet.
My understanding is that inquiries have been made into whether fraud or criminal activity has taken place. We have not found any evidence yet.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Greg Hands
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Everybody living in Hammersmith and Fulham—except, it seems, the Secretary of State—is baffled by the unwillingness of the Department to investigate past and present claims for income support and other benefits by former local resident, Abu Hamza, and his family. Despite owning various properties, receiving rental income and buying a flat in Hammersmith with £75,000 in cash, there has never been a DWP investigation. Will the Secretary of State tell us why?
Subjects
Crime prevention; Fraud; Income support
Date
23 April 2007
Reference
459 c640
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
In October 2005, we published new proposals for reducing benefit fraud. Fraud in income support is now at the lowest level since figures were recorded: down from an estimated £550 million in 1997-98 to around £200 million in 2005-06. That equates to a drop from 6.7 per cent of income support expenditure to 2.1 per cent.
We are determined to make further reductions in fraud, for example, by trying new data-matching initiatives with credit reference agencies.
In October 2005, we published new proposals for reducing benefit fraud. Fraud in income support is now at the lowest level since figures were recorded: down from an estimated £550 million in 1997-98 to around £200 million in 2005-06. That equates to a drop from 6.7 per cent of income support expenditure to 2.1 per cent.
We are determined to make further reductions in fraud, for example, by trying new data-matching initiatives with credit reference agencies.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Greg Hands
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
What plans his Department has to strengthen its mechanisms for tackling income support fraud.
Subjects
Crime prevention; Fraud; Income support
Date
23 April 2007
Reference
459 c639-40
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What plans his Department has to strengthen its mechanisms for tackling income support fraud.
What plans his Department has to strengthen its mechanisms for tackling income support fraud.
Asked by
Greg Hands
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 April 2007
For answer on
23 April 2007
Answered on
23 April 2007
In October 2005, we published new proposals for reducing benefit fraud. Fraud in income support is now at the lowest level since figures were recorded: down from an estimated £550 million in 1997-98 to around £200 million in 2005-06. That equates to a drop from 6.7 per cent of income support expenditure to 2.1 per cent.
We are determined to make further reductions in fraud, for example, by trying new data-matching initiatives with credit reference agencies.
Subjects
Crime prevention; Fraud; Income support
Date
23 April 2007
Reference
459 c639-40; 132665
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What his plans are to reduce fraud in the benefit system.
What his plans are to reduce fraud in the benefit system.
Asked by
Iain Wright
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
31 January 2006
For answer on
6 February 2006
Answered on
6 February 2006
Fraud in income support and jobseeker's allowance has fallen by two thirds since 1997. Housing benefit fraud has fallen by a third. The amount of fraud is now at the lowest recorded level and we will continue to take steps to reduce these levels further in future. We are also taking more enforcement action. In 2004–05, in partnership with local authorities, 43,000 prosecutions and sanctions were imposed: a fourfold increase since 1998.
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c583-4; 48322
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
We have a clear understanding with the Post Office about the use of Post Office card accounts. It was always clear from the beginning that the contract—[Interruption.] Oh yes it was. It was absolutely explicit that the contract was to last until 2010. If the hon. Gentleman would like to see a copy of the contract, I should be happy to supply him with the details. I do not believe that he is right to draw a parallel between the use of the Post Office card account and BACS—the bankers automated clearing service—for benefit payments. With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I do not think that he would say that BACS was inherently more susceptible to fraud; it processes hundreds of millions of transactions successfully for the DWP every year. It is a sign of the progress and modernisation of our benefits system that we are prepared to use BACS more widely and I am surprised that the Liberal Democrats seem not to recognise the progress and the efficiencies that the system represents for taxpayers.
We have a clear understanding with the Post Office about the use of Post Office card accounts. It was always clear from the beginning that the contract—[Interruption.] Oh yes it was. It was absolutely explicit that the contract was to last until 2010. If the hon. Gentleman would like to see a copy of the contract, I should be happy to supply him with the details. I do not believe that he is right to draw a parallel between the use of the Post Office card account and BACS—the bankers automated clearing service—for benefit payments. With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I do not think that he would say that BACS was inherently more susceptible to fraud; it processes hundreds of millions of transactions successfully for the DWP every year. It is a sign of the progress and modernisation of our benefits system that we are prepared to use BACS more widely and I am surprised that the Liberal Democrats seem not to recognise the progress and the efficiencies that the system represents for taxpayers.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Danny Alexander
(Liberal Democrat)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Given that 4.5 million people access their benefits and pensions through the Post Office card account, is not the Secretary of State concerned that shifting that many people to a new form of payment when the contract ends will offer massive opportunities for fraud, as well as inconveniencing many people and causing a loss of income for post offices? Is not that yet another reason why the card account should be kept beyond 2010?
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c585
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I do not want to pass the buck, but I am tempted to say that those are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. In all such matters, the law has to be, and will be, properly enforced and if the Department for Work and Pensions can make a contribution to that process, of course we stand ready to do so.
I do not want to pass the buck, but I am tempted to say that those are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. In all such matters, the law has to be, and will be, properly enforced and if the Department for Work and Pensions can make a contribution to that process, of course we stand ready to do so.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Madeleine Moon
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Will my right hon. Friend tell us what steps he is taking to prevent the defrauding of the taxpayer by company directors who declare themselves bankrupt, leaving the Government to pick up redundancy and holiday costs for their work force, and subsequently set up a new company having failed to meet their obligations to their previous employees?
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c584-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
As my hon. and learned Friend will know, it is difficult to be absolutely clear about that. I can be clear to the House about this, however: we estimate roughly that £50 million a year is lost in benefit fraud through the theft of other people's identities. We—at least on the Labour Benches—are prepared to invest in new technology, where appropriate, such as biometric identification on identity cards, to tackle the problem of benefit fraud. The Conservative party, which used to trumpet its reputation as the party of value for money and defence of taxpayers' interests—
As my hon. and learned Friend will know, it is difficult to be absolutely clear about that. I can be clear to the House about this, however: we estimate roughly that £50 million a year is lost in benefit fraud through the theft of other people's identities. We—at least on the Labour Benches—are prepared to invest in new technology, where appropriate, such as biometric identification on identity cards, to tackle the problem of benefit fraud. The Conservative party, which used to trumpet its reputation as the party of value for money and defence of taxpayers' interests—
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Vera Baird
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
I understand that about £2.7 million was lost recently by the theft of about 7,000 identities of benefit staff. If those identities had been secured by three kinds of cross-checkable biometrics on the proposed national identity register, is it my right hon. Friend's considered view that the availability of those better checks might, or would, have protected any of those large pay-outs to the cost of the taxpayer?
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c585
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that important point. It is worth bearing in mind that the Public Accounts Committee has acknowledged the good progress that the Government have been making in recent years to tackle the serious problem of benefit fraud. Those who cheat and defraud the taxpayer must be prosecuted, because not only are they self-evidently breaking the law, they also undermine the legitimate claims of people on benefit, and we shall not tolerate that for a second either. In relation to my hon. Friend's specific point, chapter 7 of the recently published Green Paper on welfare reform set out a series of measures that will deal with the problem of complexity and benefit fraud. We are awaiting the response to the consultation, which will finish by the end of April.
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that important point. It is worth bearing in mind that the Public Accounts Committee has acknowledged the good progress that the Government have been making in recent years to tackle the serious problem of benefit fraud. Those who cheat and defraud the taxpayer must be prosecuted, because not only are they self-evidently breaking the law, they also undermine the legitimate claims of people on benefit, and we shall not tolerate that for a second either. In relation to my hon. Friend's specific point, chapter 7 of the recently published Green Paper on welfare reform set out a series of measures that will deal with the problem of complexity and benefit fraud. We are awaiting the response to the consultation, which will finish by the end of April.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Iain Wright
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
I appreciate what my right hon. Friend is doing, but in its report of last year on dealing with complexities in the benefit system, the National Audit Office stated that"““complex regulations may also make the system vulnerable to deliberate action by customers to falsify their circumstances or deliberately fail to report changes accurately or on time.””"
That fraud could amount to £900 million a year. What steps are the Government taking to simplify the benefit system to reduce the risk of fraud or to allow it to be more easily detected?
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c584
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Fraud in income support and jobseeker's allowance has fallen by two thirds since 1997. Housing benefit fraud has fallen by a third. The amount of fraud is now at the lowest recorded level and we will continue to take steps to reduce these levels further in future. We are also taking more enforcement action. In 2004–05, in partnership with local authorities, 43,000 prosecutions and sanctions were imposed: a fourfold increase since 1998.
Fraud in income support and jobseeker's allowance has fallen by two thirds since 1997. Housing benefit fraud has fallen by a third. The amount of fraud is now at the lowest recorded level and we will continue to take steps to reduce these levels further in future. We are also taking more enforcement action. In 2004–05, in partnership with local authorities, 43,000 prosecutions and sanctions were imposed: a fourfold increase since 1998.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c583-4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
All the arrangements for claiming tax credit, which is not a benefit, as the hon. Lady will know, have to be robust, because they involve public money and resources. She has offered her own interpretation of the events that led to that issue, and it is probably better for me as the Secretary of State to wait until the formal criminal proceedings and investigations are over before I add my ha'p'orth to the argument about how easy it is to claim benefits or about what the cause of that fraudulent series of applications might have been.
All the arrangements for claiming tax credit, which is not a benefit, as the hon. Lady will know, have to be robust, because they involve public money and resources. She has offered her own interpretation of the events that led to that issue, and it is probably better for me as the Secretary of State to wait until the formal criminal proceedings and investigations are over before I add my ha'p'orth to the argument about how easy it is to claim benefits or about what the cause of that fraudulent series of applications might have been.
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Asked by
Julie Kirkbride
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Type
Oral answers to questions
Does the Secretary of State accept that the recently organised scam of the tax credit system, which involved a loss of many millions of pounds to the taxpayer, was in large part due to the fact that the Government have made it too easy to claim tax credit? Bearing in mind that it is a duty of the Government to ensure that people who receive benefits should be entitled to them, will the Secretary of State promise the House to make it somewhat more difficult to claim tax credits so that the taxpayer can have confidence that the system pays people who deserve it rather than those who do not?
Subjects
Fraud; Prosecutions; Social security benefits
Date
6 February 2006
Reference
442 c584
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individuals have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted for obtaining free treatment on the NHS to which they are not entitled in each year between 1997 and 2004, broken down by the reason for non-entitlement to treatment. - Inc tables...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individuals have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted for obtaining free treatment on the NHS to which they are not entitled in each year between 1997 and 2004, broken down by the reason for non-entitlement to treatment. - Inc tables...
Asked by
David Davis
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 February 2005
For answer on
25 February 2005
Answered on
25 February 2005
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted
for obtaining free treatment on the NHS to which they are not entitled in each year between 1997 and 2004, broken down by the reason
for non- entitlement to treatment. [217436]
Mr. Hutton :[holding answer 24 February 2005]:
Between September 1999 and 2004, a total of 29 persons have been arrested for obtaining or seeking to obtain free national health
service treatment to which they were not entitled. These arrests occurring in the following years;
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Number of arrests
1999 1
2000 1
2001 3
2002 3
2003 9
2004 12
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
During the same period 35 persons1 were successfully prosecuted for obtaining or seeking to obtain free NHS treatment to which they
were not entitled.
Prosecutions were broken down to the following reasons to non-entitlement in each year between 1999 and 2004.
1 The disparity between persons arrested (29) and persons prosecuted (35) is caused by the fact that an arrest is not always
required to progress to criminal prosecution.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Use of false identity 1 1 -- 2 8 7
False claim of exemption -- -- -- -- 4 3
Use of stolen/altered -- -- 2 -- 4 3
prescription
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Subjects
Arrests; Fraud; NHS; Prosecutions
Date
25 February 2005
Reference
217436; 431 c908W;431 c904W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, under what circumstances members of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service will be able to procure patient records from general practitioners without consent; what penalties may be used against general practitioners who refuse to release patient records to members of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, under what circumstances members of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service will be able to procure patient records from general practitioners without consent; what penalties may be used against general practitioners who refuse to release patient records to members of...
Asked by
Tim Loughton
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 November 2004
For answer on
17 November 2004
Answered on
17 November 2004
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) under what circumstances members of the NHS Counter Fraud and Security
Management Service will be able to procure patient records from general practitioners without consent; [198002]
(2) what penalties may be used against general practitioners who refuse to release patient records to members of the NHS Counter
Fraud and Security Management Service. [198003]
Mr. Hutton: The national health service Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) does not have any specific powers to
require general practitioners to produce patient records or to impose penalties where records are not produced. The remit of the
CFSMS is to bring fraud and corruption in the NHS down to an absolute minimum. Its primary interest is not, therefore, in patient
records. On some occasions, however, records may be requested where they are needed for the thorough investigation of allegations of
fraud or corruption.
On 21 October my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord Warner) launched a consultation on
proposals to introduce new powers which would allow NHS counter fraud specialists access to relevant documents, records and data
where investigations require this. Such access would be strictly controlled and on the occasions where access is needed, we are
seeking views on whether such records should be viewed by a clinical specialist who would accompany the NHS counter fraud
specialist.
The consultation on these proposals finishes on 21 January 2005 and we welcome all views on this issue. It is too early to
say what shape any future measures may take but they will be informed by the outcome of the consultation exercise.
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Data protection; Fraud; General practitioners; NHS; Medical records; Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
Date
17 November 2004
Reference
426 c1670W;426 c1673W; 198002;198003
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and its predecessor the NHS Counter Fraud Service brought against bank and agency nursing staff for timesheet fraud since September 1998. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 8 November 2004).
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and its predecessor the NHS Counter Fraud Service brought against bank and agency nursing staff for timesheet fraud since September 1998. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 8 November 2004).
Asked by
John Baron
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 November 2004
For answer on
15 November 2004
Answered on
15 November 2004
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prosecutions the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and its
predecessor the NHS Counter Fraud Service brought against bank and agency nursing staff for timesheet fraud since September 1998.
[196435]
Mr. Hutton: [holding answer 8 November 2004]: Since 1998, we have investigated a number of cases of suspected timesheet fraud
by both bank and agency staff. These investigations have resulted in 39 criminal prosecutions. Additionally, during the same period
there have been two prosecutions for false identity by a bank member of staff and for obtaining a pecuniary advantage by an agency
member of staff.
Subjects
Agency nurses; Fraud; NHS; Prosecutions; Temporary employment
Date
15 November 2004
Reference
196435; 426 c1177-8W;426 c1181-2W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence of fraud he has collated in the running of NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence of fraud he has collated in the running of NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 July 2004
For answer on
1 September 2004
Answered on
1 September 2004
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence of fraud he has collated in the running of NHS Professionals;
and if he will make a statement. [186142]
Mr. Hutton: No evidence of fraud has been collated in the running of NHS Professionals but any cases relating to individuals
registered with NHS Professionals are dealt with by the national health service counter fraud and security management service
(CFSMS).
NHS Professionals is in the process of drawing up a counter fraud charter with the CFSMS.
Subjects
Fraud; NHS Professionals
Date
1 September 2004
Reference
424 c918W; 186142
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk of fraud in nurse banks and medical locum agencies; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the risk of fraud in nurse banks and medical locum agencies; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 July 2004
For answer on
12 July 2004
Answered on
12 July 2004
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risk of fraud in nurse banks and medical
locum agencies; and if he will make a statement. [182657]
Mr. Hutton: No such assessment has been made but the National Health Service counter fraud and security management service is
currently renewing staff bank systems with local counter fraud specialists.
Subjects
Agency nurses; Fraud; Employment agencies; NHS; Locums
Date
12 July 2004
Reference
182657; 423 c935-6W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 13th January, 416 c708W, on agency staff, if he will estimate the cost of fraud covered by criminal prosecutions; and what extrapolation has been made from these figures of the wider cost of timesheet fraud. - Inc...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 13th January, 416 c708W, on agency staff, if he will estimate the cost of fraud covered by criminal prosecutions; and what extrapolation has been made from these figures of the wider cost of timesheet fraud. - Inc...
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 January 2004
For answer on
2 February 2004
Answered on
2 February 2004
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column
708W, on agency staff, if he will estimate the cost of fraud covered by criminal prosecutions; and what extrapolation has been made
from these figures of the wider cost of timesheet fraud. [149853]
Mr. Hutton: The value of detected fraud amounts to £33,465 in those cases resulting in criminal prosecution of agency staff. No
wider, meaningful extrapolation can be made from this figure.
Subjects
Costs; Agency nurses; Fraud; Employment agencies; NHS
Date
2 February 2004
Reference
417 c682W; 149853
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the estimated cost to the NHS of timesheet fraud by agency staff was in each of the last six years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the estimated cost to the NHS of timesheet fraud by agency staff was in each of the last six years.
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 January 2004
For answer on
13 January 2004
Answered on
13 January 2004
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost to the NHS of timesheet fraud by agency staff was in
each of the last six years. [147258]
Mr. Hutton: Estimated figures of timesheet fraud by agency staff across the whole national health service are not available. The
Counter Fraud and Security Management Service has, however, investigated cases of timesheet fraud committed by both bank and agency
staff that have resulted in 33 criminal prosecutions. Information will be sent to the NHS in England and Wales on how to improve
systems and stop the fraudulent practices.
Subjects
Costs; Fraud; Employment agencies; NHS
Date
13 January 2004
Reference
416 c708W;416 c706W; 147258
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what work the NHS counter-fraud unit is undertaking on the use of agency staff in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. - Including figures.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what work the NHS counter-fraud unit is undertaking on the use of agency staff in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. - Including figures.
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 December 2003
For answer on
18 December 2003
Answered on
18 December 2003
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work the NHS counter-fraud unit is undertaking on the use of agency staff
in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [144595]
Mr. Hutton: The National Health Service Counter Fraud Service, now Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS), was
created in 1998 with a remit to tackle fraud and corruption within the NHS. So far, it has produced a financial benefit to the NHS
of more than £295 million. It works with more than 400 professionally trained and accredited local counter fraud specialists
covering every health body in England and Wales.
NHS bank and agency staff are an integral part of the NHS work force, but there is, unfortunately, a small minority of these staff
who take advantage of the NHS and its resources. CFSMS have identified bank and agency timesheet fraud as a significant area of
fraud and investigations, to date, have resulted in 33 criminal prosecutions. Some of the individuals involved have received terms
of imprisonment ranging from nine to 21 months. Criminal prosecution is not the only action taken and CFSMS pursues a parallel
sanctions policy, seeking to combine appropriate disciplinary procedures with civil action to freeze and recover assets.
The CFMS is engaged in a national proactive exercise aimed at highlighting system and policy weaknesses in the NHS. As a result,
information will be sent to the whole of the NHS in England and Wales on how to improve systems, stop the fraudulent practices that
put resources at risk and prevent bank and agency staff fraud in the future. Local counter fraud specialists in NHS organisations
that use bank and agency staff have been required to check agency staff records, including timesheets, uncover incidents of fraud,
assess systems used to monitor agency staff and deliver fraud awareness presentations to agency staff.
This is the first of several exercises to be developed by CFSMS that will see NHS counter fraud specialists proactively detect and
investigate fraud and where necessary apply tough sanctions.
Subjects
Crime prevention; Fraud; Employment agencies; NHS; Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
Date
18 December 2003
Reference
144595; 415 c1122-3W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the amount of fraud in the NHS; and what research his Department has commissioned to estimate the level of unidentified fraud in the NHS. - Including table.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the amount of fraud in the NHS; and what research his Department has commissioned to estimate the level of unidentified fraud in the NHS. - Including table.
Asked by
Paul Burstow
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Hutton of Furness
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 December 2003
For answer on
18 December 2003
Answered on
18 December 2003
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the amount of fraud in the NHS; and what
research his Department has commissioned to estimate the level of unidentified fraud in the NHS. [144591]
Mr. Hutton: The National Health Service Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (NHS CFSMS) has an on-going programme of
highly accurate risk measurement exercises--accurate to plus or minus 1 per cent.--designed to reveal levels of losses and, through
repeated exercises, reductions in such losses, where they take place.
Phase one of these exercises concentrated on patient fraud. The tables show the results.
£ million
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Year data selected Fraud losses
Pharmaceutical patient fraud
1998-99 117
1999-2000 69
Dental patient fraud
1999-2000 40.3
2000-01 30
Optical patient fraud
1999-2000 13.25
2001-02 10.17
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
A statistically valid sample of those prescriptions prescribed during March 2003 has been taken and a further measurement exercise
has been completed. Further reductions in pharmaceutical patient fraud are anticipated and figures will be produced later this
month.
Phase two of the programme is now focussing on contractor fraud within the NHS. As the measurement programme extends, it will enable
NHS CFSMS to accurately assess the totality of NHS fraud.
Total patient fraud losses have reduced from approximately £170 million to £109.17 million per year, a reduction of 36 per cent.
since the creation of NHS CFSin 1998.
Fraud in the NHS is not acceptable. It deprives the NHS of the resources needed for the delivery of patient care and the continuing
improvement of frontline services.
Subjects
Contracts; Fraud; NHS; Patients; Prescriptions; Research
Date
18 December 2003
Reference
144591; 415 c1121-2W
House
House of Commons