HC Deb 05 August 1975 vol 897 cc222-3
16. Mr. Fox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in reducing the abuse of the social security system.

Mr. O'Malley

In all its social security operations, the Department seeks to strike the right balance between dealing with genuine claimants in a prompt and civilised way and providing adequate safeguards against fraud and abuse. One of the best safeguards is the detection and prosecution of fraudulent claimants, and the number of such prosecutions increased from about 12,000 in 1973 to nearly 14,000 in 1974.

Mr. Fox

While accepting that answer, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that there is something wrong with the system when a student who works in his vacation finds his earnings aggregated to his parents' income, whereas if he takes the advice of the National Union of Students, as 9,000 did last Easter, and collects supplementary benefits, these are tax-free? To the majority of taxpayers this is an abuse. Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the tax payments?

Mr. O'Malley

I refer the hon. Gentleman to a statement made last week in which it was announced that the whole question of student support was under examination.

Mr. William Hamilton

Will my right hon. Friend publish in the Official Report the amounts reclaimed from fraudulent claimants of social security side by side with the amounts reclaimed as a result of fraud under the income tax laws?

Mr. O'Malley

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I shall try to provide those figures. It is a pity that Opposition Members do not show the same kind of concern for income tax frauds as they do in the case of a number of very poor people.