Clause 3 - Code of practice about use of information powers
Social Security Fraud Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Ms Angela Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Social Security; Wallasey, Labour)
I accept what the hon. Lady says. In the future it may be possible to make a property appear that it is lived in when it is not, but that should not stop us from closing any loopholes now. In respect of tax evasion, we need to assume powers to deal with current abuses. We know that the people whom we are fighting will become increasingly sophisticated and devise other ways of continuing their evasion. Anti-fraud work is similar; one closes the loophole in the present and we have to deal with what may emerge later when we get there. We will not know for sure until the pilots are completed, but we believe that bulk transfer on abnormally low and high usage of utilities is a fertile area for closure of loopholes, and I hope that the hon. Lady agrees.
The hon. Lady and I have a slightly different approach to affirmative debates on the code. If substantial change were required, consultation would take place. The new code would be sent out to all groups of people affected by it. The Secretary of State would consult and Parliament could, if it wanted, debate it. There may not be that much between us. The Government's intentions are clear, and I hope that the hon. Lady will accept that we want an open, two-way process to secure the best possible support for the code.