Commentary on Clause 15 Colluding Employers
163.This clause inserts a new section 115B into the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
164.Subsection (1) provides for section 115B to apply where the Secretary of State for Social Security or an authority responsible for administering Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit considers that there are grounds for instituting proceedings (or grounds for referral to the Lord Advocate or procurator fiscal to consider proceedings in respect of the clause’s application in Scotland) against a person for an offence in respect of conduct of a type defined in subsection (2). The person is referred to in section 115B as "the responsible person".
165.Subsection (2) defines the conduct for which there must be evidence of to prosecute. This is either:
166.Subsection (3) defines how the Secretary of State offers the invitation to pay a financial penalty and the information he must supply when he does so: the Secretary of State issues a written notice, which informs the ‘responsible person’ that he may be invited to agree to pay a penalty and that, if he does so in the specified manner, he will not be prosecuted for an offence for conduct described in subsection (2) (and the case will not be referred to the Lord Advocate or procurator fiscal to consider prosecution in respect of the clause’s application in Scotland). This subsection also includes a regulation-making power to prescribe other information, which the Secretary of State must supply.
167.Subsection (4) provides that if the penalty is accepted it may under subsection (4)(a) be recovered as a civil debt and by deduction from benefit in circumstances where the recipient of the penalty notice is in receipt of a relevant social security benefit. Subsection (4)(b) provides that if the penalty is accepted no criminal proceedings for the specific conduct to which the penalty relates will be instituted (and the case will not be referred to the Lord Advocate or procurator fiscal to consider prosecution in respect of the clause’s application in Scotland). Section 71(10) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (which relates to benefit overpayments) will apply in relation to penalties recoverable under section 115B. This will enable the penalty to be recovered as if it were an amount payable under a court order.
168.Subsection (5) fixes the amount of the penalty. Subsection (5)(a) provides for a penalty of £1,000 for conduct which falls into subsection (2)(a) but not subsection (2)(b). For conduct falling within subsection (2)(b) subsection (5)(b) and (c) provide for a penalty of £1,000 multiplied by the number of employees involved in the fraud up to a maximum of £5,000.
169.Subsection (6) gives the ‘responsible person’ the right to withdraw agreement to pay a penalty, in a manner specified by the Secretary of State, within 28 days of having accepted it.
170.Subsection (7) (a) provides for the repayment of any amount of the penalty that has already been paid where the agreement to pay is withdrawn. In such circumstances subsection (7) (b) provides that the bar on prosecution will no longer apply.
171.Subsection (8) defines the different circumstances in which an individual is a ‘relevant employee’ in relation to conduct of the ‘responsible person’. Subsection (8) provides that an individual is a relevant employee where:
172.Subsection (9) defines terms used in this section.
173.Subsection (9)(2) makes provision for penalties under section 115B to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
Clause 16