Parliament & Politics The House: Fraud tally

BENEFIT FRAUD is so prevalent that Sir John Bourn, the comptroller and auditor general, qualified the National Insurance fund's accounts for the 12th year running.

Sir John said fraud in the payment of Jobseekers' allowance amounted to pounds 46.9m in 1997-98 and that misuse of giros and order books could add up to a further pounds 64m.