Written Question
Monday 16th November 2015
Asked by:
Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to transfer housing benefit fraud investigation powers from local authorities to national investigation service.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The current intention is for Local Authority powers to prosecute Housing Benefit cases to be turned off from 02 April 2016, at which time the Department for Work and Pensions Fraud and Error Service will assume overall responsibility, following the full implementation of the Single Fraud Investigation Service Project.
Written Question
Monday 16th November 2015
Asked by:
Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of benefit fraud in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2013-14; and what proportion of total expenditure on housing benefit that cost represented in each of those years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Overpayments in the benefit system have fallen to a record low of 1.8% for 2014-15.
In 2013-14 total benefit expenditure excluding housing benefit was £140bn, of which the cost of benefit fraud was £0.77bn (0.55%). Similarly, Housing Benefit expenditure was £24.2bn, of which the cost of benefit fraud was £0.43bn (1.78%).
In 2014-15 total benefit expenditure excluding housing benefit was £144bn, of which the cost of benefit fraud was £0.71bn (0.49%). Similarly, Housing Benefit expenditure was £24.3bn, of which the cost of benefit fraud was 0.59bn (2.43%).
Written Question
Monday 16th November 2015
Asked by:
Chris Leslie (The Independent Group for Change - Nottingham East)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the reasons for increased benefit fraud in the last financial year.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The 2014-2015 national statistics for fraud and error were published on 5 November 2015. We are committed to tackling fraud and error, and these figures show a reduction in total benefit fraud and error to the lowest ever level of 1.8%. There was a slight increase of 0.1% in the benefit fraud figure (from 0.7% in 2013-2014 to 0.8%).
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"Good morning, Madam Deputy Speaker.
When one cuts through the rhetoric and the headlines that the Chancellor spun, one sees that yesterday’s Budget leaves working people worse off. It is the working families of Britain on low incomes, trying their hardest to do the right thing, who will pay the …..."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"The hon. Lady is very keen, and I give way to her enthusiasm...."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"I did not realise that the hon. Lady was a conduit for the former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer. I will certainly look closely at what he said, but I did not hear him say those words this morning.
I want to ask Ministers about the work penalty that they …..."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"I will give way to the very eager Conservative Members in a moment, but I want to make a little progress.
We do recognise that sensible savings are needed to get the deficit down, and we will support measures that tackle tax avoidance and control overall household benefit levels. We …..."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"Let me pick who I want to give way to. I give way to the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate...."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"I have not used those words. The hon. Gentleman is reporting words that have apparently been said.
I believe it is important that the Opposition today look at the spin and the headlines that the Chancellor created in his Budget yesterday. Less than 24 hours later, the Budget is beginning …..."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 09 Jul 2015
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.
Many parts of the Budget were suggested by Labour in recent months. Abolishing permanent non-dom status—that sounds very familiar to my hon. Friends. Increasing the minimum wage—again, we have repeatedly called for that. We welcome any action on low pay—by the way, the Conservatives opposed …..."Chris Leslie - View Speech
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