5 April 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on South Bucks District Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Alan Johnson, has today published an inspection report by the BFI on South Bucks District Council’s counter-fraud arrangements.
In 2003/04, South Bucks District Council administered some £9 million in housing benefits, about 38 per cent of its gross revenue expenditure. BFI found that the council’s counter-fraud work and audit arrangements were not at Standard.
The council had contracted out counter-fraud work in 1997 but little meaningful counter-fraud work was done under these arrangements. Following a Best Value review of the Revenues and Benefits service, direct responsibility for managing counter-fraud was returned to the council on 1 September 2004.
BFI found that existing strategic and policy plans contained too little detail to be fully effective and that some were still in draft. In many cases no fraud file was set up to hold details of the investigation and where a fraud file did exist it contained insufficient information. The management of the council’s counter-fraud resources and quality of the investigative work was poor. No fraud sanctions had been applied in over 10 years. The Performance Development Team is now working with the council to develop a long-term strategy to improve counter-fraud work.
BFI is an independent unit within the Department for Work and Pensions that reports directly to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the standard of benefit administration and counter-fraud activity.
Chris Pond, Minister for Housing Benefit and Anti-Fraud, announced the publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes for editors
- The focused inspection at South Bucks District Council included an initial fact finding stage, an on-site visit, and production and clearance of the report. The on-site visit took place during November 2004.
- Each BFI inspection report is considered by the Secretary of State who decides whether any further action is appropriate. The Secretary of State has powers to issue directions to a local authority to secure acceptable or minimum standards in performance.
- Media copies of the BFI inspection report can be obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions Press Office on 020 7238 0866.
- All BFI inspection reports can be found on the BFI website.
Department for Work and Pensions Press enquiries: 020 7238 0866
BFI Press enquiries: 01423 83 2938
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk