§ 50. Mr. Alexander W. Lyonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps officials of his Department take to investigate the background of persons alleged to be obtaining benefits to which they are not entitled before prosecutions are preferred against them.
§ Mr. SwinglerOfficers inquiring into cases of suspected fraud are required to report any facts about the health or family circumstances of the suspected person which might affect the decision whether to prosecute, and special inquiries on such matters are made where appropriate.
§ Mr. LyonWould my hon. Friend not agree that it would be better to have formal machinery, something like the probation officer's report in court cases, which would always be available to officers so that they could evaluate the background and decide whether the offence had been caused because a man was socially maladjusted in some way?
§ Mr. SwinglerI would like to consider that suggestion. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I would be very pleased to look at it.