HC Deb 30 May 1960 vol 624 cc980-1
19. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many prosecutions took place in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively, in each of the last five years, for false declarations of income to the National Assistance Board; and how many were imprisoned as a result of such prosecutions in each year.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The Board informs me that separate figures are not available for Wales nor for those prosecutions where the false declaration related only to income.

Following are the figures:

I am informed by the National Assistance Board that the numbers of prosecutions for false declarations in connection with applications for National Assistance, and of resulting imprisonments, in England and Wales and in Scotland during the last five years were as follows:—

— England and Wales Scotland
Prosecutions Imprisonments Prosecutions Imprisonments
1955 … 577 142 225 57
1956 … 537 148 258 66
1957 … 472 111 248 71
1958 … 654 169 195 68
1959 … 638 168 178 53