§ 36. Mr. Onslowasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will move to set up a Select Committee to investigate recent allegations of fraudulent abuse of the supplementary benefit system.
§ Mr. OnslowSince one of the most serious features of these allegations was that abuses have been known within the Ministry but have been covered up, is it a satisfactory position that the Ministry should remain judge and jury in a case of this kind?
§ Mr. PeartI think that my right hon. Friend and his Department have made their position quite clear. I do not wish to set up another Select Committee. I have set up so many Select Committees in the past—[Interruption.] The hon. Member must listen to my answer. If he wants to stand up and ask a supplementary question I do not mind. I have a long list of Select Committees here, and I am not going to set up another one.
§ Mr. CrawshawDoes not my hon. Friend agree that, few as these abuses are, they tend to discredit the whole social security system in the eyes of the public? In seeking to deal with these abuses will he be careful not to return to such a close system of vigilance that people who ought to seek assistance refuse to do so?