Dear Ministry of Social Development,

I have four requests for information, as outlined below:
(1) A Regulatory Impact Statement (dated 8 November 2012) refers to two cabinet papers: Tackling Welfare Fraud and Welfare Debt Recovery. Tackling Welfare Fraud is available online. Could you please make the Welfare Debt Recovery cabinet paper available?

(2) The Cabinet Paper referred to above (Tackling Welfare Fraud) has the analysis of any impact on human rights redacted (under s.9(2)(f)(iv)). As the legislation that this Cabinet Paper refers to is now enacted, can the redacted information on human rights be released please?

(3) Section 86(4) of the Social Security Act 1964 allows for debt recovery of excess payments from the estate of a welfare benefit recipient. Can you please advise how many times this option has been taken over the past three years (2011, 2012 and 2013)?

(4) Section 86(2) of the Social Security Act 1964 allows for a penalty of up to three times any excess amount to be applied, where excess amounts have been obtained as a result of fraud. Can you please advise how many times this option has been applied over the past three years (2011, 2012 and 2013)?

Yours faithfully,
Lisa Marriott
Victoria University of Wellington