The Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Order 2000

Statutory Instruments

2000 No. 1091

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Order 2000

Made

17th April 2000

Laid before Parliament

19th April 2000

Coming into force

10th May 2000

The Secretary of State for Social Security, with the consent of the Treasury(1), in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by sections 140B(1), (3) and (4), 140C(1), 140F and 189(1) and (4) to (7) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992(2), and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, after consultation, in accordance with section 176(1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, with organisations appearing to him to be representative of the authorities concerned, hereby makes the following Order:

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Amendment Order 2000 and shall come into force on 10th May 2000.

(2) Article 6 of this Order shall take effect in respect of the year commencing on 1st April 1998 and any relevant year thereafter.

(3) Articles 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Order shall take effect in respect of the year commencing on 1st April 1999 and any relevant year thereafter.

(4) In this Order, “the principal Order” means the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998(3).

Definition of “fraud prosecution points”

2.  Article 2 of the principal Order shall be amended by adding after the definition of “claim form” the following definition—

““fraud prosecution points” means those points described in accordance with paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 5 to this Order;”.

Reference to fraud prosecution points

3.  In paragraph (4) of article 4 of the principal Order for the words “ and benefit-related savings” as they appear in each of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) there shall be substituted the words “, benefit-related savings and fraud prosecution points”.

New percentage for council tax benefit

4.—(1) In paragraph (1) of article 11 of the principal Order there shall be substituted by the words “Contributions and Benefits Act 1992,” as they appear in the definition of “scheme”, the following words—

“Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;

• “X per cent.” means, in relation to a local authority, the percentage specified in column (7) of Schedule 1 that applies to that authority,”.

(2) For paragraph (1) of article 13 of the principal Order there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“(1) Subject to any adjustment in accordance with paragraph (3), for the purposes of section 140A(4) of the Act, the subsidy to be paid to an authority shall, subject in the case of Scottish Homes to paragraph (2), be—

(a) in the case of any authority to which none of articles 14, 16 and 17 applies, an amount equal to the aggregate of—

(i) 95 per cent. of its qualifying expenditure attributable to expenditure in respect of housing benefit; and

(ii) X per cent. of its qualifying expenditure attributable to expenditure in respect of council tax benefit;

(b) in the case of any authority to which at least one of those articles applies an amount equal to the aggregate of—

(i) 95 per cent. of so much of its qualifying expenditure attributable to expenditure in respect of housing benefit as remains after deducting from that expenditure the amount of expenditure attributable to housing benefit to which each of those articles which is relevant applies;

(ii) X per cent. of so much of its qualifying expenditure attributable to expenditure in respect of council tax benefit as remains after deducting from that expenditure the amount of expenditure attributable to council tax benefit to which article 14 applies; and

(iii) the appropriate amount calculated in respect of the relevant benefit under each such article,

plus, in each case, the additions, where applicable, under articles 18 and 21(2), but subject, in each case, to the deductions, where applicable, under articles 20 and 21(3).”.

(3) For sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (1) of article 18 of the principal Order there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“(b) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), where, during the relevant year, it is discovered that an overpayment of community charge benefit or relevant benefit has been made and an amount is to be deducted under article 19 in relation to that overpayment, an amount equal to—

(i) in the case of a departmental error overpayment where the overpayment is overpayment of housing benefit, 95 per cent. of so much of the overpayment as has not been recovered by the authority;

(ii) in the case of a departmental error overpayment where the overpayment is overpayment of community charge benefit or council tax benefit, X per cent. of so much of the overpayment as has not been recovered by the authority;

(iii) in the case of a fraudulent overpayment, 80 per cent. of the overpayment;

(iv) except where any of heads (i) to (iii) above apply, 25 per cent. of the overpayment.”.

(4) Paragraph (4) of article 18 of the principal Order shall be amended by substituting for the words “paragraphs (1)(b)(i) and (3)” the words “ paragraphs (1)(b)(i), (ii) and (3)”.

(5) Paragraph (5) of article 18 of the principal Order shall be amended by substituting for the words “paragraph (1)(b)(ii) and (c)” the words “ paragraphs (1)(b)(iii) and (c)”.

(6) Paragraph (8) of article 18 of the principal Order shall be amended by substituting for the words “paragraphs (1)(b)(ii)” the words “paragraphs (1)(b)(iii)”.

Scottish Homes

5.  For the year commencing on 1st April 1999, for the sum of “£1,278,000” specified as the maximum payable to Scottish Homes in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) of article 13 of the principal Order(5), there shall be substituted the sum of “£1,010,190”.

Fraud overpayments in previous years

6.  Sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (1) of article 18 of the principal Order shall be amended by substituting for the words “95 per cent.” the words “ 80 per cent.”.

Departmental error overpayment

7.  Sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (4) of article 18 of the principal Order shall be amended by adding after the words “as such” the words “, or a person providing services to either Department”.

Additions to and deductions from subsidy in respect of benefit savings

8.  For sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) of article 21 of the principal Order there shall be substituted the following sub–paragraphs—

“(2) This article applies in the case of an authority to which paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 5 applies and in such a case the additions shall be calculated in accordance with those paragraphs.

(3) This article also applies in the case of an authority to which paragraph 5 of Schdule 5 applies and in such a case the deduction shall be calcualted in accordance with that paragraph.”.

Sums to be used in the calculation of subsidy

9.  For the year commencing on 1st April 1999, for Schedule 1 to the principal Order(6) there shall be substituted the Schedule set out in Schedule 1 to this Order.

Definition of “last day”

10.  For sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the principal Order there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“(2) In this Schedule, “last day” means—

(a) in the case of a person to whom regulation 6(2) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 (persons not treated as engaged in remunerative work)(7) applies, the date on which he was first engaged in remunerative work referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of regulation 6(2) of those Regulations; and

(b) in any other case, the last day of the relevant benefit period as “ relevant benefit period” is defined in paragraph 12 of Schedule 5A to the Housing Benefit Regulations or, for the purposes of council tax benefit, paragraph 8 of Schedule 5A to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations(8) (extended payments).”.

Definition of “ineligible amounts”

11.  The definition of “ineligible amounts” in paragraph 17 of Part IV of Schedule 4 to the principal Order shall be amended by adding the following sub-paragraph—

“(d) any amount determined in accordance with regulation 10(6) of the Housing Benefit Regulations and deducted under regulation 10(3) of those Regulations.”.

Amended thresholds for subsidy on rent allowances

12.  Part V of Schedule 4 to the principal Order shall be amended as follows—

(a) for the references in column (1) to, and amounts stated in column (2) in respect of, Cumbria, Leicestershire, Midlands (West), Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire there shall be substituted, in the appropriate places within the Part, the following references and amounts–

“Cumbria	60.82
Leicestershire	64.92
Midlands (West)	83.89
Northamptonshire	68.46
Staffordshire	86.59
Warwickshire	83.51”;

(b) for the references in column (1) to, and amounts stated in column (2) in respect of, rent registration areas in Scotland, there shall be substituted the following references and amounts–

“Aberdeen	116.83
Aberdeenshire	116.83
Angus	116.83
Argyll and Bute	103.93
Clackmannanshire	150.40
Comhairle Nan Eilean Sair	146.28
Dumfries and Galloway	103.93
Dundee	116.83
East Ayrshire	103.93
East Dunbartonshire	112.91
East Lothian	132.78
East Renfrewshire	137.58
Edinburgh, City of	132.78
Falkirk	103.93
Fife	116.83
Glasgow	103.93
Highland	100.28
Inverclyde	103.93
Midlothian	132.78
Moray	116.83
North Ayrshire	103.93
North Lanarkshire	103.93
Orkney	116.83
Perth and Kinross	124.08
Scottish Borders	132.78
Shetland	116.83
Stirling	103.93
West Dunbartonshire	103.93
West Lothian	132.78”.

Benefit savings

13.  For Schedule 5 to the principal Order there shall be substituted the Schedule set out in Schedule 2 to this Order.

Modification of Schedule 5

14.  In the definition of “benefit savings” and “benefit-related savings” in paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 to the principal Order references to a decision of the Secretary of State shall be read as if they were references to a determination of an adjudication officer–

(a) in respect of the period beginning on 1st April 1999 and ending on 6th September 1999, in relation to decisions relating to retirement pension, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance or widow’s pension;

(b) in respect of the period beginning on 1st April 1999 and ending on 18th October 1999, in relation to decisions relating to jobseeker’s allowance; and

(c) in respect of the period beginning on 1st April 1999 and ending on 29th November 1999, in relation to decisions relating to income support.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security.

Angela Eagle

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,

Department of Social Security

17th April 2000

We consent,

Bob Ainsworth

Clive J. C. Betts

Two of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

17th April 2000

Article 8

SCHEDULE 1

The following Schedule is substituted for Schedule 1 to the principal Order.

Articles 11(1), 12(b), 13(1), 17(1), 18(1)(b) and (d), 21 and paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 5

“SCHEDULE 1 SUMS AND PERCENTAGE TO BE USED IN THE CALCULATION OF SUBSIDY

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)
Authority	Administration Subsidy (£)	Homeless Threshold (£)	Homeless Cap (£)	Additional Subsidy (£)	Benefit Savings Threshold (£)	X per cent.
ENGLAND
ADUR	130,096	74.58	99.44	18,306	119,510	93.63
ALLERDALE	271,463	63.05	84.06	21,335	192,031	94.74
ALNWICK	74,227	52.83	70.44	4,316	49,737	91.57
AMBER VALLEY	229,285	58.82	78.42	20,435	150,272	92.25
ARUN	326,249	85.13	113.50	68,445	409,712	93.57
ASHFIELD	266,222	56.99	75.98	20,538	167,476	90.28
ASHFORD	197,876	78.47	104.62	18,456	185,705	91.66
AYLESBURY VALE	202,168	72.74	96.98	22,172	145,589	91.84
BABERGH	156,736	69.86	93.14	16,604	121,653	93.04
BARKING AND DAGENHAM	627,461	141.10	169.32	58,004	476,311	94.81
BARNET	808,117	141.10	169.32	220,495	1,283,429	94.81
BARNSLEY	697,791	46.67	62.22	47,474	386,321	94.01
BARROW-IN-FURNESS	235,982	65.85	87.80	35,471	215,026	94.75
BASILDON	499,728	71.67	95.56	35,669	327,622	93.68
BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE	281,277	71.37	95.16	21,462	228,100	91.71
BASSETLAW	255,514	60.29	80.38	21,353	167,645	90.75
BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET	350,465	60.59	80.78	51,782	367,473	94.61
BEDFORD	389,805	56.63	75.50	39,158	387,574	91.52
BERWICK-UPON-TWEED	68,909	52.40	69.86	5,841	43,335	91.54
BEXLEY	577,915	141.10	169.32	82,268	382,634	93.08
BIRMINGHAM	3,831,166	63.11	84.14	327,607	3,593,494	94.85
BLABY	87,522	52.65	70.20	7,234	46,122	94.73
BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN	463,945	72.39	96.52	50,754	486,398	94.83
BLACKPOOL	632,685	53.24	70.98	179,756	866,613	94.36
BLYTH VALLEY	231,802	48.21	64.28	12,197	136,517	91.50
BOLSOVER	211,451	47.90	63.86	21,503	120,340	92.35
BOLTON	805,374	52.97	70.62	70,305	688,019	94.93
BOSTON	128,934	55.14	73.52	8,494	80,210	93.48
BOURNEMOUTH	571,535	68.87	91.82	158,204	737,683	94.57
BRACKNELL FOREST	173,729	76.53	102.04	22,850	140,131	94.50
BRADFORD	1,405,468	57.30	76.40	188,575	1,301,135	94.48
BRAINTREE	272,109	66.71	88.94	23,862	215,720	93.89
BRECKLAND	265,152	68.25	91.00	19,465	173,323	90.24
BRENT	1,243,716	141.10	169.32	319,720	2,225,215	89.57
BRENTWOOD	108,018	76.34	101.78	11,717	80,554	93.87
BRIDGNORTH	86,506	60.27	80.36	6,278	54,249	91.15
BRIGHTON AND HOVE	1,088,659	69.90	93.20	298,993	1,527,461	94.00
BRISTOL	1,235,292	60.65	80.86	158,936	1,254,477	94.68
BROADLAND	184,259	68.25	91.00	13,604	125,145	90.36
BROMLEY	726,025	141.10	169.32	84,298	680,317	91.69
BROMSGROVE	102,695	55.49	73.98	6,643	58,419	91.40
BROXBOURNE	157,410	83.97	111.96	21,921	130,496	91.15
BROXTOWE	202,250	51.26	68.34	18,680	130,658	90.64
BURNLEY	290,504	61.47	81.96	39,357	295,572	92.49
BURY	417,229	59.21	78.94	45,468	327,483	93.02
CALDERDALE	514,905	54.74	72.98	46,468	401,209	95.00
CAMBRIDGE	235,131	66.75	89.00	26,727	233,131	91.45
CAMDEN	1,295,286	141.10	169.32	219,463	1,746,890	94.84
CANNOCK CHASE	198,923	63.80	85.06	10,144	123,422	92.55
CANTERBURY	316,635	75.75	101.00	55,091	343,155	91.70
CARADON	184,688	62.46	83.28	31,390	191,925	94.49
CARLISLE	245,768	56.57	75.42	22,962	187,748	94.75
CARRICK	229,585	65.84	87.78	37,736	240,228	94.62
CASTLE MORPETH	84,084	55.05	73.40	4,657	48,528	91.20
CASTLE POINT	157,083	82.71	110.28	32,423	144,875	93.92
CHARNWOOD	220,910	53.15	70.86	27,227	134,516	94.73
CHELMSFORD	238,326	73.35	97.80	22,610	186,731	93.79
CHELTENHAM	242,682	78.33	104.44	39,933	274,783	92.46
CHERWELL	201,649	72.60	96.80	38,884	184,995	89.86
CHESTER	260,247	57.56	76.74	27,607	215,866	94.88
CHESTER-LE-STREET	138,019	52.25	69.66	9,133	80,291	95.00
CHESTERFIELD	310,299	49.31	65.74	24,471	219,399	92.19
CHICHESTER	190,668	70.34	93.78	25,404	180,200	93.54
CHILTERN	147,636	71.37	95.16	8,004	125,748	91.89
CHORLEY	192,763	48.48	64.64	14,445	142,933	92.35
CHRISTCHURCH	99,639	65.63	87.50	10,445	80,743	92.52
CITY OF LONDON	44,559	141.10	169.32	2,193	38,289	94.79
COLCHESTER	323,620	68.45	91.26	46,683	344,018	93.87
CONGLETON	141,928	60.02	80.02	8,079	69,633	94.99
COPELAND	209,930	56.70	75.60	18,580	157,727	94.75
CORBY	139,091	57.20	76.26	18,306	85,621	91.81
COTSWOLD	150,313	65.63	87.50	15,486	129,305	92.45
COVENTRY	1,015,727	58.71	78.28	111,034	823,452	94.46
CRAVEN	84,177	63.65	84.86	10,115	67,887	91.50
CRAWLEY	198,375	71.37	95.16	12,872	142,164	93.55
CREWE AND NANTWICH	213,971	56.85	75.80	19,994	164,970	94.99
CROYDON	1,007,912	141.10	169.32	222,353	1,570,610	90.99
DACORUM	255,078	68.48	91.30	22,201	164,900	91.17
DARLINGTON	254,120	55.29	73.72	31,997	226,987	95.00
DARTFORD	178,841	74.78	99.70	25,980	146,687	91.74
DAVENTRY	93,575	59.28	79.04	6,652	60,192	91.59
DERBY	690,153	56.55	75.40	73,879	603,789	93.19
DERBYSHIRE DALES	94,822	55.16	73.54	6,303	49,808	92.27
DERWENTSIDE	301,050	59.46	79.28	16,897	177,947	95.00
DONCASTER	857,584	49.62	66.16	64,592	516,278	94.89
DOVER	317,958	78.59	104.78	61,093	362,786	91.65
DUDLEY	745,957	60.38	80.50	33,195	416,539	94.90
DURHAM CITY	196,078	59.54	79.38	9,815	114,998	95.00
EALING	1,002,090	141.10	169.32	262,021	1,495,966	94.15
EASINGTON	369,035	59.55	79.40	16,636	242,687	95.00
EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE	137,680	68.25	91.00	10,707	87,871	91.27
EAST DEVON	225,006	58.65	78.20	29,840	235,443	92.28
EAST DORSET	125,658	65.63	87.50	11,529	98,204	92.60
EAST HAMPSHIRE	179,692	71.37	95.16	19,765	170,901	91.73
EAST HERTFORDSHIRE	173,884	75.17	100.22	16,592	124,703	91.18
EAST LINDSEY	322,317	61.59	82.12	48,922	246,522	93.45
EAST NORTHAMPTONSHIRE	126,453	58.53	78.04	12,502	70,640	91.83
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE	588,947	53.87	71.82	87,487	507,513	95.00
EAST STAFFORDSHIRE	196,867	53.96	71.94	19,760	140,849	92.58
EASTBOURNE	315,380	69.60	92.80	70,252	435,054	92.86
EASTLEIGH	208,137	98.33	131.10	20,352	171,702	91.86
EDEN	85,910	60.02	80.02	7,746	67,907	94.74
ELLESMERE PORT AND NESTON	168,383	46.02	61.36	9,005	100,115	94.99
ELMBRIDGE	184,216	84.87	113.16	36,490	207,945	92.14
ENFIELD	873,811	141.10	169.32	166,715	1,230,046	93.97
EPPING FOREST	245,818	72.42	96.56	31,251	197,928	93.83
EPSOM AND EWELL	97,493	71.37	95.16	16,342	98,696	92.29
EREWASH	275,581	50.55	67.40	21,978	157,630	92.20
EXETER	288,151	57.23	76.30	58,626	302,588	91.52
FAREHAM	120,976	69.47	92.62	16,274	97,371	91.73
FENLAND	193,990	64.56	86.08	26,373	134,069	91.39
FOREST HEATH	88,723	61.47	81.96	9,365	55,951	93.17
FOREST OF DEAN	152,920	63.05	84.06	15,720	112,987	92.54
FYLDE	130,963	52.88	70.50	27,063	128,732	92.31
GATESHEAD	804,176	52.83	70.44	45,401	624,400	94.47
GEDLING	194,844	48.78	65.04	21,350	142,080	90.70
GLOUCESTER	291,295	77.03	102.70	59,157	316,176	92.00
GOSPORT	169,313	76.47	101.96	18,527	178,430	91.15
GRAVESHAM	229,392	74.19	98.92	35,285	190,271	91.59
GREAT YARMOUTH	331,630	53.15	70.86	61,217	289,171	90.10
GREENWICH	1,151,591	141.10	169.32	93,042	1,066,367	94.85
GUILDFORD	207,234	83.61	111.48	29,741	209,257	91.77
HACKNEY	1,744,272	141.10	169.32	264,078	2,752,264	94.82
HALTON	456,646	51.65	68.86	26,859	342,131	95.00
HAMBLETON	140,938	53.00	70.66	13,853	99,527	90.92
HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM	925,096	141.10	169.32	152,133	1,116,939	94.83
HARBOROUGH	78,824	66.71	88.94	6,196	49,003	94.73
HARINGEY	1,327,983	141.10	169.32	387,081	2,803,901	94.84
HARLOW	240,830	68.22	90.96	17,327	157,424	94.01
HARROGATE	228,778	67.89	90.52	41,236	229,845	91.45
HARROW	482,896	141.10	169.32	123,940	798,816	92.62
HART	85,247	71.37	95.16	10,966	69,135	91.79
HARTLEPOOL	379,607	56.84	75.78	33,325	311,061	94.38
HASTINGS	448,414	71.37	95.16	106,773	564,036	92.92
HAVANT	249,857	71.37	95.16	26,420	208,358	91.78
HAVERING	486,786	141.10	169.32	60,661	381,964	91.46
HEREFORDSHIRE	365,916	57.99	77.32	47,291	339,843	90.48
HERTSMERE	223,389	69.35	92.46	17,391	166,808	91.39
HIGH PEAK	168,965	61.58	82.10	19,149	146,303	92.23
HILLINGDON	578,641	141.10	169.32	79,384	676,409	92.44
HINCKLEY AND BOSWORTH	134,810	59.67	79.56	10,459	67,218	94.72
HORSHAM	160,142	86.96	115.94	18,815	147,195	93.53
HOUNSLOW	647,139	141.10	169.32	135,393	772,923	94.58
HUNTINGDONSHIRE	204,600	70.23	93.64	20,520	153,785	88.93
HYNDBURN	240,259	61.64	82.18	38,205	244,407	92.31
IPSWICH	377,390	62.51	83.34	38,765	308,544	93.32
ISLE OF WIGHT	460,753	71.37	95.16	80,498	505,394	92.31
ISLES OF SCILLY	4,545	62.49	83.32	184	2,418	94.36
ISLINGTON	1,301,065	141.10	169.32	124,880	1,365,950	94.85
KENNET	144,223	65.63	87.50	10,834	118,713	93.99
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA	747,378	141.10	169.32	157,072	1,116,313	94.75
KERRIER	293,083	65.63	87.50	35,921	253,059	94.62
KETTERING	154,863	58.55	78.06	17,274	102,313	91.83
KING'S LYNN AND WEST NORFOLK	306,094	57.12	76.16	29,635	204,379	90.39
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL	1,146,243	53.82	71.76	38,057	891,087	95.00
KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES	249,007	141.10	169.32	101,144	286,557	88.78
KIRKLEES	1,007,679	60.15	80.20	101,809	897,506	95.00
KNOWSLEY	745,944	68.45	91.26	37,625	533,244	94.91
LAMBETH	1,563,649	141.10	169.32	275,947	1,991,824	94.78
LANCASTER	375,024	58.11	77.48	79,364	384,818	92.31
LEEDS	2,262,330	52.71	70.28	266,295	1,666,242	95.00
LEICESTER	974,450	65.97	87.96	85,567	895,042	95.00
LEWES	193,069	75.42	100.56	37,173	199,593	92.80
LEWISHAM	1,458,626	141.10	169.32	195,876	1,385,980	94.52
LICHFIELD	157,819	60.53	80.70	5,409	89,651	92.52
LINCOLN	300,725	48.47	64.62	34,014	254,245	93.50
LIVERPOOL	2,794,447	63.77	85.02	307,084	2,438,901	94.92
LUTON	501,263	73.68	98.24	97,131	495,805	92.94
MACCLESFIELD	228,306	59.94	79.92	26,633	183,065	94.99
MAIDSTONE	250,266	75.96	101.28	29,598	221,372	91.87
MALDON	123,365	68.25	91.00	31,281	110,705	93.87
MALVERN HILLS	138,903	60.53	80.70	11,614	111,509	91.43
MANCHESTER	2,515,315	71.21	94.94	323,488	2,912,358	94.94
MANSFIELD	301,212	64.76	86.34	24,627	233,228	90.23
MEDWAY TOWNS	652,587	67.98	90.64	179,371	683,210	94.77
MELTON	65,772	53.19	70.92	5,140	41,893	94.73
MENDIP	216,119	65.19	86.92	32,905	216,477	93.60
MERTON	466,595	141.10	169.32	94,553	551,685	94.82
MID BEDFORDSHIRE	177,456	66.93	89.24	13,665	110,144	91.50
MID DEVON	133,255	61.86	82.48	18,383	132,304	92.39
MID SUFFOLK	125,428	65.94	87.92	10,371	78,880	93.24
MID SUSSEX	194,219	71.37	95.16	21,669	197,753	93.56
MIDDLESBROUGH	585,047	65.37	87.16	50,237	523,919	94.25
MILTON KEYNES	494,864	59.76	79.68	50,569	458,087	89.69
MOLE VALLEY	106,405	71.54	95.38	10,681	78,741	91.67
NEW FOREST	294,104	78.15	104.20	32,847	279,311	91.88
NEWARK AND SHERWOOD	227,717	57.63	76.84	21,120	162,152	90.97
NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME	225,615	49.79	66.38	12,674	131,328	92.53
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE	1,210,866	55.80	74.40	115,320	1,030,552	94.47
NEWHAM	1,474,233	141.10	169.32	390,909	2,610,049	94.80
NORTH CORNWALL	233,681	62.91	83.88	33,642	202,814	94.62
NORTH DEVON	233,123	74.82	99.76	51,714	283,557	92.38
NORTH DORSET	103,810	65.63	87.50	9,335	77,125	92.50
NORTH EAST DERBYSHIRE	206,224	47.31	63.08	8,908	90,984	92.35
NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE	509,418	54.56	72.74	69,762	451,010	95.00
NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE	232,608	71.31	95.08	26,158	174,562	91.28
NORTH KESTEVEN	126,997	55.04	73.38	9,780	74,865	93.49
NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE	353,432	51.42	68.56	34,232	237,588	95.00
NORTH NORFOLK	223,156	60.12	80.16	29,099	173,298	90.41
NORTH SHROPSHIRE	104,069	53.75	71.66	9,726	75,059	91.29
NORTH SOMERSET	408,992	75.26	100.34	88,519	488,526	92.11
NORTH TYNESIDE	703,836	47.96	63.94	74,742	439,661	94.16
NORTH WARWICKSHIRE	138,010	54.80	73.06	6,284	72,116	92.74
NORTH WEST LEICESTERSHIRE	147,439	55.56	74.08	8,395	75,994	94.73
NORTH WILTSHIRE	208,989	65.63	87.50	15,635	149,427	94.26
NORTHAMPTON	421,032	62.85	83.80	49,010	318,157	91.54
NORWICH	499,745	58.14	77.52	41,121	394,898	90.12
NOTTINGHAM	1,150,289	54.35	72.46	97,589	1,009,011	94.33
NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH	263,765	58.44	77.92	24,147	176,873	92.69
OADBY AND WIGSTON	68,731	53.73	71.64	7,055	42,697	94.10
OLDHAM	674,606	53.78	71.70	52,038	532,799	94.03
OSWESTRY	79,025	55.50	74.00	7,253	56,918	89.25
OXFORD	377,345	69.27	92.36	79,483	504,881	90.28
PENDLE	226,835	57.42	76.56	32,594	217,410	92.49
PENWITH	249,901	65.63	87.50	35,417	280,536	94.61
PETERBOROUGH	450,103	69.11	92.14	67,928	422,776	90.83
PLYMOUTH	817,047	57.75	77.00	145,798	863,710	92.68
POOLE	286,504	67.55	90.06	48,219	284,588	94.57
PORTSMOUTH	649,676	71.96	95.94	110,855	785,219	94.84
PRESTON	398,311	62.76	83.68	38,403	380,496	92.52
PURBECK	87,928	80.25	107.00	12,569	87,970	92.55
READING	384,299	90.42	120.56	85,603	534,587	94.60
REDBRIDGE	662,244	141.10	169.32	216,874	1,127,673	89.88
REDCAR AND CLEVELAND	426,264	60.71	80.94	37,137	369,158	94.41
REDDITCH	167,454	62.18	82.90	8,872	122,561	91.57
REIGATE AND BANSTEAD	178,325	79.47	105.96	22,585	153,344	91.74
RESTORMEL	254,479	67.55	90.06	49,058	292,675	94.61
RIBBLE VALLEY	60,763	50.90	67.86	7,657	46,510	92.35
RICHMOND-UPON-THAMES	350,701	141.10	169.32	57,727	372,763	92.35
RICHMONDSHIRE	68,094	61.56	82.08	6,124	58,248	91.22
ROCHDALE	684,664	57.15	76.20	65,873	597,175	94.93
ROCHFORD	127,329	68.36	91.14	16,189	105,908	93.91
ROSSENDALE	163,655	58.89	78.52	18,264	143,878	92.48
ROTHER	231,171	60.74	80.98	33,996	231,306	92.82
ROTHERHAM	734,643	45.12	60.16	35,956	383,921	94.89
RUGBY	153,325	58.31	77.74	12,437	110,158	92.65
RUNNYMEDE	115,494	90.68	120.90	15,160	95,571	91.40
RUSHCLIFFE	126,408	60.62	80.82	15,902	79,211	90.66
RUSHMOOR	168,503	71.37	95.16	18,394	154,913	91.80
RUTLAND	40,451	68.24	90.98	3,284	29,350	90.76
RYEDALE	100,009	53.00	70.66	7,829	76,490	91.59
SALFORD	958,130	63.29	84.38	127,457	810,343	94.37
SALISBURY	200,321	78.41	104.54	32,258	195,375	94.24
SANDWELL	1,087,553	67.95	90.60	47,573	695,798	94.75
SCARBOROUGH	306,005	62.45	83.26	56,858	286,852	91.47
SEDGEFIELD	290,173	55.23	73.64	11,927	156,018	95.00
SEDGEMOOR	232,264	68.82	91.76	35,275	217,280	93.57
SEFTON	870,605	61.91	82.54	128,407	664,467	94.91
SELBY	108,417	59.81	79.74	10,844	75,547	91.56
SEVENOAKS	219,835	71.37	95.16	16,691	168,955	91.78
SHEFFIELD	1,866,055	51.26	68.34	86,334	1,021,472	94.66
SHEPWAY	316,545	69.08	92.10	78,596	397,966	91.80
SHREWSBURY AND ATCHAM	178,934	58.53	78.04	19,015	132,923	91.12
SLOUGH	310,337	77.45	103.26	59,960	344,926	93.25
SOLIHULL	364,868	64.61	86.14	18,708	239,354	94.73
SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE	200,213	69.81	93.08	17,479	135,370	91.64
SOUTH BUCKS	110,733	70.44	93.92	5,929	72,242	91.82
SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE	141,109	80.19	106.92	14,648	95,895	85.56
SOUTH DERBYSHIRE	134,576	55.44	73.92	16,924	92,337	92.20
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE	313,488	66.75	89.00	33,439	242,615	91.12
SOUTH HAMS	167,833	79.08	105.44	29,349	189,160	92.33
SOUTH HOLLAND	123,977	59.34	79.12	7,688	60,251	93.49
SOUTH KESTEVEN	206,515	59.40	79.20	20,729	133,629	93.44
SOUTH LAKELAND	167,796	61.02	81.36	24,130	161,113	94.74
SOUTH NORFOLK	178,957	63.08	84.10	14,429	115,764	90.16
SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE	83,775	68.04	90.72	8,085	53,489	91.92
SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE	196,465	73.92	98.56	31,586	143,653	90.04
SOUTH RIBBLE	175,639	60.02	80.02	9,386	121,602	92.33
SOUTH SHROPSHIRE	90,104	60.53	80.70	9,399	76,279	90.92
SOUTH SOMERSET	362,919	74.00	98.66	36,894	243,030	93.61
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE	187,648	60.53	80.70	6,801	103,387	92.24
SOUTH TYNESIDE	668,460	47.06	62.74	53,651	339,850	94.42
SOUTHAMPTON	750,391	63.80	85.06	121,664	842,482	94.70
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA	614,606	71.79	95.72	148,321	794,330	95.00
SOUTHWARK	1,552,300	141.10	169.32	148,800	1,524,348	94.82
SPELTHORNE	176,475	71.37	95.16	17,885	149,307	92.33
ST ALBANS	185,495	76.46	101.94	16,455	157,869	91.28
ST EDMUNDSBURY	173,461	66.14	88.18	14,193	118,883	93.21
ST HELENS	568,404	64.53	86.04	35,820	400,343	94.91
STAFFORD	175,660	55.65	74.20	11,356	109,539	92.51
STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS	125,934	55.94	74.58	10,676	69,961	92.59
STEVENAGE	225,603	73.40	97.86	15,501	190,738	91.26
STOCKPORT	680,134	52.38	69.84	79,062	524,140	94.83
STOCKTON-ON-TEES	517,709	58.44	77.92	46,324	410,694	94.29
STOKE-ON-TRENT	768,379	59.24	78.98	52,122	674,047	94.60
STRATFORD-ON-AVON	198,415	60.53	80.70	18,272	134,486	92.51
STROUD	192,062	70.31	93.74	23,859	165,796	92.56
SUFFOLK COASTAL	239,462	61.76	82.34	27,203	203,654	93.23
SUNDERLAND	1,044,506	53.91	71.88	81,132	903,097	94.37
SURREY HEATH	96,021	71.37	95.16	11,852	68,172	91.74
SUTTON	387,642	141.10	169.32	57,745	399,905	94.81
SWALE	357,341	54.33	72.44	63,617	345,933	91.65
SWINDON	349,939	58.50	78.00	39,216	266,742	94.54
TAMESIDE	662,166	61.25	81.66	55,325	510,628	94.93
TAMWORTH	161,910	64.85	86.46	15,163	107,851	92.27
TANDRIDGE	91,204	69.89	93.18	11,725	77,846	91.79
TAUNTON DEANE	237,813	59.94	79.92	35,422	234,769	93.55
TEESDALE	52,827	54.62	72.82	4,736	35,016	95.00
TEIGNBRIDGE	260,785	69.74	92.98	45,507	277,913	92.35
TELFORD AND WREKIN	384,164	64.34	85.78	27,503	330,219	91.62
TENDRING	391,195	65.94	87.92	67,461	347,551	93.88
TEST VALLEY	145,525	72.23	96.30	11,271	108,370	91.70
TEWKESBURY	131,447	66.05	88.06	13,391	73,227	90.02
THANET	577,401	71.27	95.02	135,187	694,556	91.79
THREE RIVERS	149,179	75.38	100.50	13,437	105,662	91.29
THURROCK	356,757	71.42	95.22	37,614	260,938	94.85
TONBRIDGE AND MALLING	213,383	71.37	95.16	14,547	161,539	91.77
TORBAY	471,495	68.15	90.86	130,381	643,277	86.19
TORRIDGE	145,960	64.28	85.70	28,723	184,095	92.32
TOWER HAMLETS	1,323,575	141.10	169.32	74,399	1,276,921	94.79
TRAFFORD	481,802	60.14	80.18	53,968	419,868	94.91
TUNBRIDGE WELLS	234,234	71.37	95.16	23,486	242,043	91.71
TYNEDALE	99,135	59.45	79.26	5,791	60,652	91.58
UTTLESFORD	93,618	73.79	98.38	10,260	68,686	93.90
VALE OF WHITE HORSE	170,043	71.37	95.16	16,113	121,705	89.70
VALE ROYAL	204,471	59.49	79.32	12,074	132,599	94.99
WAKEFIELD	848,608	51.66	68.88	41,688	477,734	95.00
WALSALL	776,816	53.84	71.78	28,868	448,562	93.25
WALTHAM FOREST	1,009,219	141.10	169.32	241,030	1,479,931	94.83
WANDSWORTH	1,103,248	141.10	169.32	200,061	1,361,610	94.61
WANSBECK	195,402	45.75	61.00	11,314	103,124	91.57
WARRINGTON	411,966	55.37	73.82	22,997	252,611	95.00
WARWICK	224,986	63.41	84.54	25,377	189,951	92.55
WATFORD	186,595	69.38	92.50	27,043	174,811	91.58
WAVENEY	374,981	59.22	78.96	78,778	397,098	93.17
WAVERLEY	174,513	77.63	103.50	21,691	150,816	91.84
WEALDEN	204,500	65.85	87.80	32,775	196,308	92.94
WEAR VALLEY	214,030	56.51	75.34	12,410	129,175	95.00
WELLINGBOROUGH	136,269	55.19	73.58	15,916	82,935	91.41
WELWYN HATFIELD	210,135	65.49	87.32	16,058	129,240	91.36
WEST BERKSHIRE	227,499	72.84	97.12	18,146	181,250	94.60
WEST DEVON	94,672	71.91	95.88	19,466	112,759	92.41
WEST DORSET	210,829	65.63	87.50	19,516	184,056	92.56
WEST LANCASHIRE	277,324	58.19	77.58	19,824	188,855	92.00
WEST LINDSEY	149,231	54.96	73.28	15,758	100,310	93.51
WEST OXFORDSHIRE	128,932	66.92	89.22	19,617	106,926	89.64
WEST SOMERSET	112,197	65.63	87.50	18,019	107,465	93.60
WEST WILTSHIRE	210,166	75.96	101.28	34,381	194,143	94.26
WESTMINSTER	1,000,505	141.10	169.32	312,672	1,676,361	94.59
WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND	175,457	66.03	88.04	38,256	201,390	92.01
WIGAN	786,108	51.30	68.40	41,041	480,540	94.04
WINCHESTER	166,358	74.66	99.54	14,279	152,441	91.78
WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD	245,551	71.37	95.16	28,851	204,376	94.56
WIRRAL	1,206,675	70.56	94.08	159,166	1,121,172	94.14
WOKING	130,122	91.97	122.62	17,586	136,070	89.39
WOKINGHAM	116,143	74.61	99.48	19,579	104,941	94.60
WOLVERHAMPTON	892,281	56.54	75.38	47,812	684,190	94.92
WORCESTER	208,660	56.97	75.96	40,058	182,304	91.42
WORTHING	236,381	70.10	93.46	56,136	284,426	93.55
WYCHAVON	197,488	60.53	80.70	11,093	132,808	91.43
WYCOMBE	227,597	81.33	108.44	21,168	200,425	91.87
WYRE	221,903	60.02	80.02	33,788	195,281	92.34
WYRE FOREST	189,800	61.68	82.24	18,218	129,457	91.20
YORK	371,544	62.70	83.60	48,498	342,569	94.84
WALES
BLAENAU GWENT	255,077	60.11	80.14	17,777	153,644	95.00
BRIDGEND	336,798	60.23	80.30	39,298	230,060	95.00
CAERPHILLY	492,769	63.69	84.92	40,328	296,071	95.00
CARDIFF	844,400	71.90	95.86	99,199	828,748	95.00
CARMARTHENSHIRE	454,344	57.57	76.76	53,848	316,334	95.00
CEREDIGION	160,228	63.05	84.06	28,498	153,184	95.00
CONWY	303,660	56.88	75.84	56,454	298,530	94.99
DENBIGHSHIRE	248,736	54.72	72.96	50,170	254,378	95.00
FLINTSHIRE	291,796	56.28	75.04	24,991	168,563	95.00
GWYNEDD	335,576	56.51	75.34	47,881	259,179	95.00
ISLE OF ANGLESEY	188,695	54.02	72.02	28,888	162,495	95.00
MERTHYR TYDFIL	219,278	57.44	76.58	14,369	135,677	95.00
MONMOUTHSHIRE	143,127	66.44	88.58	14,423	110,855	93.67
NEATH PORT TALBOT	427,057	57.60	76.80	31,711	263,187	95.00
NEWPORT	394,877	65.12	86.82	37,999	254,522	95.00
PEMBROKESHIRE	313,021	55.79	74.38	44,542	268,353	95.00
POWYS	251,198	58.31	77.74	25,274	169,050	95.00
RHONDDA, CYNON, TAFF	683,274	58.44	77.92	58,912	430,644	95.00
SWANSEA	709,541	59.85	79.80	79,762	593,497	95.00
TORFAEN	251,829	68.73	91.64	12,778	120,177	95.00
VALE OF GLAMORGAN	247,387	67.22	89.62	46,717	217,239	95.00
WREXHAM	329,047	52.77	70.36	23,971	157,317	95.00
SCOTLAND
ABERDEEN CITY	474,015	51.57	68.76	28,300	241,997	95.00
ABERDEENSHIRE	323,181	47.95	63.94	24,091	169,270	95.00
ANGUS	286,839	42.43	56.58	15,745	155,054	95.00
ARGYLL AND BUTE	237,508	56.16	74.88	26,568	186,874	95.00
CLACKMANNANSHIRE	156,135	48.02	64.02	4,673	62,281	95.00
COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SAIR	74,306	58.03	77.38	3,427	37,209	95.00
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY	413,576	51.06	68.08	30,242	301,483	95.00
DUNDEE CITY	752,626	59.45	79.27	35,254	558,755	95.00
EAST AYRSHIRE	428,054	44.43	59.24	13,438	206,345	95.00
EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE	159,723	50.98	67.97	8,856	81,938	94.97
EAST LOTHIAN	236,294	47.19	62.92	20,069	155,716	95.00
EAST RENFREWSHIRE	137,940	48.11	64.15	9,351	88,286	95.00
EDINBURGH, CITY of	1,363,184	70.28	93.70	192,693	1,400,821	95.00
FALKIRK	450,801	48.48	64.65	13,217	212,952	95.00
FIFE	1,080,185	49.26	65.69	65,645	584,410	95.00
GLASGOW CITY	3,620,707	66.55	88.73	202,152	2,462,618	95.00
HIGHLAND	526,628	63.12	84.16	28,814	393,791	95.00
INVERCLYDE	347,822	59.65	79.54	15,074	201,224	95.00
MIDLOTHIAN	211,630	42.51	56.68	8,965	110,404	95.00
MORAY	188,869	45.16	60.22	14,456	119,920	95.00
NORTH AYRSHIRE	465,172	48.52	64.69	29,166	262,654	95.00
NORTH LANARKSHIRE	1,169,769	51.76	69.01	18,349	584,949	95.00
ORKNEY	37,527	52.70	70.26	4,354	30,751	95.00
PERTHSHIRE AND KINROSS	305,665	45.54	60.72	34,949	187,452	95.00
RENFREWSHIRE	642,905	53.62	71.49	21,543	297,232	95.00
SCOTTISH BORDERS	279,015	48.19	64.25	11,200	134,770	95.00
SHETLAND	32,511	62.42	83.22	1,181	19,505	95.00
SOUTH AYRSHIRE	320,490	51.90	69.20	33,553	225,396	95.00
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE	906,226	58.33	77.77	27,129	513,606	95.00
STIRLING	199,854	53.12	70.82	11,109	119,216	95.00
WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE	398,202	53.04	70.72	8,286	198,250	95.00
WEST LOTHIAN	460,487	51.51	68.68	20,859	266,611	95.00
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS
SCOTTISH HOMES	312,194				193,294”

Article 12

SCHEDULE 2

The following Schedule is substituted for Schedule 5 to the principal Order.

Articles 13 and 21

“SCHEDULE 5 BENEFIT SAVINGS

General and interpretation

1.— (1) The additions to or deductions from subsidy referred to in articles 13 and 21 shall be calculated in accordance with this Schedule.

(2) In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires–

• F is the sum specified in column (6) of Schedule 1 (Benefit Savings Threshold) for an authority identified in column (1) of that Schedule;

• G is 0.75 of the value of F;

• H is twice the value of F;

• I is thrice the value of F;

• “authorised person” means—

  (a)

  an officer of an authority; or

  (b)

  an employee of an authority’s contractor,

  who has been designated by that authority for the investigation of fraud;

• “benefit savings” means, in a case where an award of benefit had—

  (a)

  been made before an intervention and a fraudulent overpayment has arisen; or

  (b)

  been made before an intervention, but no overpayment of relevant benefit can be determined by the authority by reason of paragraphs 10 of Schedule 3, 4 of Schedule 4 or 5 of Schedule 5 to the Housing Benefit Regulations or paragraphs 10 of Schedule 3, 4 of Schedule 4 or 5 of Schedule 5 to the Council Tax Benefit Regulations (income and capital to be disregarded) where a person is in receipt of income support or an income-based jobseeker’s allowance(9), as the case may be, pending the decision of the Secretary of State; or

  (c)

  not been made before the intervention,

  any amount, which would—

  (i)

  but for the intervention, have been paid by way of relevant benefit to a claimant during a benefit week; and

  (ii)

  had it been paid as relevant benefit, have been a fraudulent overpayment (or in a case within paragraph (a) above, have also been a fraudulent overpayment), within the meaning of article 18(5),

  or, in a case where only a proportion of that non-payment was due to the intervention, the amount shall be that proportion and “benefit-savings” shall also include 75 per cent. of any relevant benefit which would, but for the residence check made by an authorised person, have been paid or allowed to a claimant during a benefit week;

• “benefit-related savings” means—

  (a)

  where benefit savings have been established and the investigation that led to those savings has also led to a decision by the Secretary of State that no designated benefit, or less designated benefit is payable to a claimant, any specified amount of designated benefit that would, but for that intervention and consequent decision, have been paid to that claimant; and

  (b)

  where the benefit savings were less than the total relevant benefit not paid, the benefit-related savings shall be an amount determined by applying to the total of designated benefit not paid a percentage equal to the percentage which those benefit savings bear to the total relevant benefit not paid;

• “designated benefit” means income support, incapacity benefit, jobseeker’s allowance, retirement pension, severe disablement allowance and widow’s pension, in a case where a claimant was, prior to the intervention, also being paid relevant benefit;

• “intervention” means an investigation and intervention by one or more authorised persons whilst involved in the investigation of fraud and not in the performance of any other duty;

• “residence check” means action taken by an authorised person that included—

  (a)

  at least two unannounced visits to the dwelling in respect of which the relevant benefit was paid or allowed to the claimant and which—

  (i)

  took place in what were, for the claimant, different benefit weeks; and

  (ii)

  at which it was established that the claimant had ceased to occupy the dwelling as his home; or

  (b)

  one unannounced visit to the dwelling in respect of which the relevant benefit was paid or allowed at which it was established beyond doubt that the claimant had ceased to occupy the dwelling as his home;

• “specified amount”, in relation to a claimant, means—

  (a)

  where the benefit is income support, the amount payable in respect of a benefit week within the meaning prescribed therefor in regulation 2(1) of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987(10);

  (b)

  where the benefit is incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance, half of the fortnightly payment in arrears by which such benefit is to be paid, pursuant to regulation 24(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(11) or, in a case where that regulation does not apply, would be so paid if that regulation did apply;

  (c)

  where the benefit is jobseeker’s allowance, the amount payable in respect of a benefit week within the meaning prescribed therefor in regulation 2(1) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996(12);

  (d)

  where the benefit is retirement pension or widow’s pension, the amount payable in respect of the week in advance in which such benefit is to be paid, pursuant to regulation 22(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(13) or, in a case where that regulation does not apply, would be so paid if that regulation did apply; and

• “verification framework” means the framework set out in the following circulars issued by the Secretary of State(14)–

  HB/CTB	F6/98;
  HB/CTB	F15/98;
  HB/CTB	F20/98;
  HB/CTB	F17/99;
  HB/CTB	A24/99;
  HB/CTB	A34/99;
  HB/CTB	A37/99; and
  HB/CTB	A48/99.

Fraud reduction score

2.— (1) An authority’s fraud reduction score is the sum of its fraud prosecution points and fraud detection points.

(2) Fraud prosecution points shall be calculated in accordance with sub-paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) for each conviction in respect of—

(a) charges under section 111A or 112 of the Act (dishonest or false representations for obtaining benefit)(15), section 15, 15A, 17 or 22 of the Theft Act 1968(16), section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977(17), section 1 or 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981(18), section 8 of the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861(19) or section 44 of the Magistrates Court Act 1980(20); or

(b) other charges (whether under statute or otherwise),

that relate to relevant benefit paid by an authority (referred to in this paragraph as a “relevant conviction”).

(3) No calculation may be done under sub-paragraph (5) in respect of a relevant conviction until—

(a) a period of one month has passed beginning with the date sentence was passed or deferred and no appeal against conviction has been brought; or

(b) any appeal against that conviction brought within that month has been rejected.

(4) No calculation may be done under sub-paragraph (5) by reason only of offences in relation to relevant benefit being taken into consideration on sentencing.

(5) Fraud prosecution points shall be expressed in monetary amounts and calculated in respect of each relevant conviction according to the following formula—

where—

• A is the benefit savings made by an authority in respect of the person convicted of a relevant conviction;

• B is the benefit-related savings made by an authority in respect of that person; and

• C is—

  (a)

  64 if D + E is equal to or greater than £1500 but less than £5000; and

  (b)

  160 if D + E is equal to or greater than £5000, where—

• D is the amount of relevant benefit overpaid to the person who has been convicted of a relevant conviction; and

• E is the amount of designated benefit overpaid to that person.

(6) Fraud detection points shall be expressed in monetary amounts and calculated according to the following formula—

where—

• AA is the total sum of benefit savings made by an authority; and

• BB is the total sum of benefit-related savings made by an authority.

Additions to subsidy

3.— (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), in the case of an authority where its fraud reduction score is greater than F, the addition for that authority shall be–

(a) 25 per cent. of the sum by which that score exceeds F in respect of the year commencing on 1st April 1999; and

(b) 30 per cent. of the sum by which that score exceeds F in respect of any subsequent year.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), in the case of an authority where its fraud reduction score is greater than H, the addition for that authority shall be the sum calculated for that authority in sub-paragraph (1), plus 5 per cent. of the sum by which that score exceeds H.

(3) In the case of an authority where its fraud reduction score is greater than I, the addition for that authority shall be the sum calculated for that authority in accordance with sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), plus—

(a) 10 per cent. of the sum by which that score exceeds I in respect of the year commencing on 1st April 1999; and

(b) 5 per cent. of the sum by which that score exceeds I in respect of any subsequent year.

Additional subsidy if verification framework compliant

4.   In the case of an authority which is certified by the Secretary of State as having complied with the verification framework in the relevant year, where its fraud reduction score is greater than G, the addition for that authority shall be 10 per cent. of the sum by which that score exceeds G subject to a maximum addition of 2.5 per cent. of F.

Deduction from subsidy

5.— (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), in the case of an authority where its fraud reduction score is less than G, the deduction for that authority shall be 50 per cent. of the sum by which that score is less than G.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply in a case where the value of F for an authority is less than £60,000.”

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes amendments to the Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/562) (“the principal Order”) in respect of years commencing on or after 1st April 1998. All but one of the amendments (that made by article 6) take effect in respect of the years commencing on or after 1st April 1999. The authority for retrospective amendments is section 140F of the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

Article 3 enables the Secretary of State to collect information about prosecutions that increase the subsidy payable to authorities under Schedule 5 (as amended by this Order).

Article 4 and column (7) of Schedule 1 (as amended by Schedule 1 to this Order) specify for each local authority the subsidy percentage generally applicable to council tax benefit expenditure.

Article 5 provides that the additional subsidy payable to Scottish Homes is not to exceed £1,010,190.

Article 6 reduces the subsidy percentage applicable to fraudulent overpayments made in previous years from 95 per cent. to 80 per cent. This amendment takes effect in respect of the year commencing on 1st April 1998 and years thereafter. It brings the subsidy payable on fraudulent overpayments made in previous years into line with the subsidy payable on fraudulent overpayments made in the year to which the subsidy claim relates.

Article 7 makes an amendment consequential on the Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/3108).

Article 8 amends article 21 of the principal Order to make changes consequential on the substitution of a new Schedule 5 by article 13 of this Order.

Article 9 replaces Schedule 1 to the principal Order with a new Schedule specifying amounts to be used in the calculation of subsidy for each authority and includes subsidy percentage rates for calculating council tax subsidy that vary from authority to authority.

Article 10 makes an amendment consequential on the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2556).

Article 11 includes amounts relating to water, sewerage or allied environment services deducted from eligible rent as “ineligible amounts”.

Article 12 amends thresholds for subsidy on rent allowances.

Article 13 replaces Schedule 5 with a new Schedule which provides for additional subsidy to be paid according to an authority’s successful fraud prosecutions and compliance with the verification framework, changes references to adjudication officers to references to the Secretary of State and adjusts the way additions to subsidy are calculated in relation to the years commencing on or after 1st April 2000.

Article 14 modifies the references in Schedule 5 to decisions of the Secretary of State to reflect the period for which adjudication officers made determinations. These modifications are in line with the dates on which the Social Security (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/991) came into force in relation to the various benefits.

This Order does not impose a charge on business.

(1)

See section 189(8) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5); amended by paragraph 3(5) of Schedule 13 to the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52), paragraph 10 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 (c. 27) and paragraph 57(3) of Schedule 3 to the Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2).

(2)

1992 c. 5; sections 140B and 140F were inserted by the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52), Schedule 12, paragraph 4 and section 140B(1) was amended by the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47), Schedule 1, paragraph 7.

(3)

S.I. 1998/562, amended by S.I. 1998/2865 and 1999/550.

(4)

1992 c. 5; section 140A was inserted by the Housing Act 1996 (c. 52), Schedule 12, paragraph 4.

(5)

Article 13(2)(a) was amended by article 2 of S.I. 1999/550.

(6)

S.I. 1998/562; the relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1999/550.

(7)

S.I. 1987/1967, amended by S.I. 1999/2556.

(8)

Schedule 5A was added to each of those Regulations by S.I. 1996/194 and each of the paragraphs referred to was amended by S.I. 1996/1510 and 1999/2556.

(9)

These paragraphs were all amended by S.I. 1996/1510.

(10)

S.I. 1987/1967; the definition of “benefit week” was amended by S.I. 1988/1445.

(11)

S.I. 1987/1968; regulation 24 was amended by S.I. 1994/2943 and 1996/1460.

(12)

S.I. 1996/207; the definition of “benefit week” was amended by S.I. 1996/517 and 1996/2538.

(13)

S.I. 1987/1968; regulation 22(1) was amended by S.I. 1991/2741 and 1994/3196.

(14)

These circulars are published by the Department of Social Security and copies may be obtained from DSS, HBM4, 5th Floor, Adelphi, London WC2N 6HT.

(15)

1992 c. 5; section 111A was inserted by, and section 112 was amended by, the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1992 (c. 47), sections 13, 14 and Schedule 1, paragraph 4.

(16)

1968 c. 60; section 15A was inserted by the Theft (Amendment) Act 1996 (c. 62), section 1(1).

(17)

1977 c. 45; section 1 was amended by the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (c. 47), section 5, the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (c. 18), section 7, the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 (c. 40), section 9, Schedule 1 paragraph 4 and Schedule 2, Part II and the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52), section 300 and Schedule 1.

(18)

1981 c. 45.

(19)

1861 c. 94; section 8 was amended by the Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45) section 65 and Schedule 12.

(20)

1980 c. 43.