18 July 2005 - Local Authorities support plans to extend their powers to tackle benefit fraud
Government plans to allow Local Authorities to investigate national benefit fraudsters have been widely welcomed.
In a consultation process Local Authorities have given their support to make legislative changes to enable them to tackle benefit fraud more effectively by giving them clear powers to investigate and prosecute offences against national social security benefits alongside local ones.
Anti-fraud minister James Plaskitt said: “These new powers will help remove some of the bureaucratic hurdles faced by local authorities as they seek to tackle fraud. The government has already halved fraud losses since 1997, but this important change will help us make even more progress.”
Notes to Editors
- Local Authorities currently have the power to investigate and prosecute fraud against benefits that they administer. In order to investigate and prosecute fraud against DWP administered social security benefits they have to work with DWP fraud investigators including where the receipt of a DWP-administered benefit ‘passported’ entitlement to Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit
- The plans will be included alongside wider reforms to Housing Benefit announced in the Queen’s speech.
- The consultation closed on 10th June 2005. Copies have today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses
- There were 48 responses to the consultation document, the overwhelming majority of which were in favour of the proposals.
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