Actully Ritchie, it depends on your definition of 'widespread'. Most authorities (including the government)estimate that no more than 7-8% of benefit claims are unjustified; and that includes mistakes as well as deliberate attempts at fraud. If you mean 'widespread' as in 'reported by the Daily Mail', then perhaps you have an argument. There is another side to your coin too; for every £1 saved by stopping unjustified benefit claims, you could save £50 by closing the loopholes via which the top 10% of earners in this country avoid paying their fair share of tax. Read the Red Book, it's available on line. People taking advantage of the domicile rules alone account for more than benefit fraud. I assume your argument is based on the presumption that everyone should abide by legislation? Why not subject tax avoidance to the same rules as tax evasion, and force the wealthy to pay their share as intended in primary legislation?