§ 7. Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many 173 cases of suspected social security abuse were investigated in October, November and December last year; how many prosecutions were proceeded with in each month; and how many persons were found guilty in each month.
§ Mr. O'MalleyNo record is kept of the total number of fraud investigations, nor can monthly figures be given for prosecutions, but, on provisional figures, the total number of prosecutions for all benefit offences in 1975 was 15,000, and about 98 per cent. of these resulted in convictions.
§ Mr. LawrenceIs the Minister aware of the strong feeling that too much of the taxpayer's money is being given to people who are cheating the system? Does he consider that the number of prosecutions and convictions satisfactorily reflects the extent of the abuse? Is he satisfied that he has enough inspectors, or people who are qualified to supervise the operation of the system, to stamp out the abuse in future?
§ Mr. O'MalleyWe are deploying substantial staff resources on anti-fraud and anti-abuse measures. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the administration of the social security system should be seen to be under sufficient control. However, at the same time it should provide a humane administration for the vast majority of claimants, who are genuine and need help. I hope that neither the hon. Gentleman nor his hon. Friends would attempt to use or to build up the arguments about abuse in this House or, indeed, the country, so as to produce a backlash that could mean a worsening in standards for genuine claimants, who form the overwhelming majority of those who use the resources of my Department.
§ Mr. William HamiltonWill my right hon. Friend confirm that successive independent inquiries into this matter have revealed that the fraud amounts, at most, to about £3 million or £4 million a year? When answering this question, will he provide the figures for fraud in connection with income tax, which I understand amounts to not less than £400 million every year? If Opposition Members were to ask questions about fraud in connection with income tax rather than social security we would take much more notice of them.
§ Mr. O'MalleyMy hon. Friend is right to point out that on the basis of such evidence as we have only a tiny minority of people try to abuse the system. It would be utterly wrong for a Government to change the methods of control so as to deter genuine claimants from receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinOne does not need to allege fraud. Does the Minister agree that the rules require further consideration? Has his attention been drawn to the case of Mr. Desmond Adams? Have we now reached the stage at which a man is entitled to have his motoring fine paid for by social security?
§ Mr. O'MalleyI have a note on the case to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred. If the right hon. Gentleman will read the Sunday Express again—I think that article is contained in that newspaper—he will see that the headline refers to social security. In fact, it has nothing to do with my Department. The article is dealing with a local authority social services department. The right hon. Gentleman should be careful before he makes inaccurate statements.