Home | Friday 16th May 2008 | Issue 632

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BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

The latest in the slew of government hi-tech IT projects pretending to save millions - but in fact costing a whole lot more - hits a sinister note with £1.5 million going to fifteen local authorities to test voice analysis technology in order to detect alleged benefits fraud. The technology supposedly detects tell-tale changes in a caller’s voice – using mathematical formulas - and telephone operators will be trained in questioning techniques and behavioural analysis. A trial run by Harrow Council and Capita in 2007 claims that people withdrew from benefits – potentially to avoid fraud cases.

The anti-fraud minister at the Dept of Work & Pensions, James Plaskitt, said that “We need to continue to do more to make sure that the taxpayers’ money always goes to those who need it most.” That is, corporations hoovering up privatisation contracts, such as Capita...

* Today, workers will go out on strike from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union – including Job centre, Ofsted, child support and pensions service staff - over paltry pay conditions. These employees are at the frontline, working to provide business with cheap workers, but are themselves of course subject to the same job-market forces.

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