19 July 2005 - Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) Inspection Report on North West Leicestershire District Council
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Blunkett, has today
published an inspection report by the BFI on North West Leicestershire District
Council’s counter-fraud arrangements.
In 2004/05 North West Leicestershire District Council administered some
£13 million in housing benefits, about 28 per cent of its gross revenue
expenditure. There was commitment at all levels within the council to deter
and prevent fraud. The work of the council’s Benefits Enquiry Unit
was well supported by Members and managers and BFI found a number of good
practices.
BFI was impressed with the commitment shown by the Benefits Enquiry Unit
to combat benefit fraud. It had raised a large number of sanctions in relation
to the number of staff and its caseload.
However, there were delays in informing suspects of the outcome of the investigation,
and no formal management checking of cases.
Overall, the council was tackling fraud effectively.
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.
James Plaskitt, Minister for Housing Benefit and Anti-Fraud, announced the
publication of the report in a written ministerial statement.
Notes to Editors
1. The BFI inspection at North West Leicestershire District Council covered
only the council’s arrangements for countering fraud, taking account,
in particular, of the council’s compliance with the Department for
Work and Pensions’ Security Against Fraud and Error (SAFE).
2. The main elements of the SAFE scheme are:
· prevention – offering higher incentive payments to local
authorities that comply with the Verification Framework, as recognition
of their efforts to prevent fraud entering the system
· detection – offering incentive payments to local authorities
for the identification of both fraud and error overpayments
· sanctions and prosecutions – offering incentive payments
to local authorities, not only for successful prosecutions but also for
issuing an administrative penalty or formal caution.
3. 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.
4. 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 – www.bfi.gov.uk.
Press office: 0207 238 0866
BFI Press enquiries 01423 83 2982
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 0207 712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk