Council
Agenda Item 64
Subject: Fraud Error and Debt Bill: Discriminatory impact
Date of meeting: 19 December 2024
Proposer: Councillor Taylor
Seconder: Councillor Miller
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Labour Group Amendment
1) New powers
planned under the The future
publication of a Fraud Error and
Debt Bill aimed at reducing benefit fraud may result in
‘suspicionless’ general extraction of data from bank
accounts.
2)
The estimated
loss of £10 billion a year through fraud and error –
money which could go to those who need it most.
Use of
sweeping automated surveillance techniques risks unintended
discrimination, as has been admitted by the DWP
itself.
3)
Concerns that
have been raised about privacy and surveillance and urges the
government to ensure the proportionality and safeguards that they
have already indicated will be in the
Bill. That
the measures introduced in this bill represent an unprecedented
invasion of privacy and assumption of guilt on those claiming
benefits, unfairly targeting them, creating unnecessary additional
stress, and eroding trust in government.
4)
That
theCouncil is
likely to might
have
a role both in enforcing and implementing new powers and in
ensuring the right support continues to be provided to those in
need.
Therefore, resolves to:
1) Request that a report is brought to a future Cabinet meeting once the bill is
published which:
a. sets out the potential impact of these new powers on B&HCC, including the
impact on
benefit claimants and of new administrative burdens
responsibilities;
b.
explores how
the Council can push back on the surveillance measures
and
clarify which
ones we would be legally required to
usethe legal duties
that would fall on the Council in enforcing any measures in the
bill.
2) Request that
the CEO of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for
Work
and Pensions,
expressing Council’s concerns about this Bill and requesting
the
proposals are
significantly rolled back to respect the privacy and dignity of
those
on
benefits.
Recommendations to read if carried:
This council notes:
1) The future publication of a Fraud Error and Debt Bill aimed at reducing benefit fraud.
2) The estimated loss of £10 billion a year through fraud and error – money which could go to those who need it most.
3) The concerns that have been raised about privacy and surveillance and urges the government to ensure the proportionality and safeguards that they have already indicated will be in the Bill.
4) That the Council may have a role both in enforcing and implementing new powers and in ensuring the right support continues to be provided to those in need.
Therefore, resolves to:
1) Request that a report is brought to a future Cabinet meeting once the bill is
published which:
a. sets out the potential impact of these new powers on B&HCC, including the
impact on benefit claimants and of new administrative responsibilities;
b. explores the legal duties that would fall on the Council in enforcing any measures in the bill.