Investigations Into Alleged Housing Benefit Fraud

EDM number 1209 in 1997-98, proposed by Brian Sedgemore on 07/04/1998.

That this House is concerned that too many cases of alleged housing benefit fraud are not properly investigated; is concerned that Westminster City Council has yet to complete its investigation in one such case concerning former Councillor Hettie Peters, former tenant of 62a Gloucester Place who was in receipt of housing benefit; notes that in 1995 Westminster City Council asked for and received from Networld Designs Limited information that in 1993 Ms Peters instructed them to carry out repairs totalling ú26,620; notes that Ms Peters paid ú2,900 in cash on 28 October, ú3,000 in cash on 5 November, ú4,000 in cash on 18 November, ú4,000 in cash on 29 November, ú6,000 in cash on 3 December and ú1,640 in cash on 2 May 1994; notes that Ms Peters personally handed over the cash except that one payment of ú4,000 in cash was made by a Ms Heimlich at the Hackney Women's Centre which was run by Ms Peters out of public funds; notes that Ms Peters was unable to explain how she qualified for housing benefit whilst in possession of such large capital sums but told other councillors that she had received a bequest in cash; notes that this case is unrelated to a housing benefit fraud case which the authorities dropped against Ms Peters in January 1997; and calls on the Auditor to complete his enquiries in this case speedily.

This motion has been signed by a total of 4 MPs.