HC Deb 15 June 1978 vol 951 cc1169-70
7. Mr. Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has studied the report on Availability of Manpower and "The Double", prepared for the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (Northern Ireland) by a firm of management consultants; and what investigations he proposes to undertake as a result.

Mr. Concannon

I confirm that I have received a copy of this report. The report does not name individuals allegedly abusing the social security system, and cannot therefore lead to investigations of individual cases. Many of the difficulties highlighted in the report can be met only by modifying certain employment practices within the construction industry, and the Departments of Manpower Services and Health and Social Security (Northern Ireland) are working closely with the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors to find solutions.

Mr. Powell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is satisfactory to know that the serious work that went into the report is being utilised by the Government? Is he satisfied that the investigatory staff in the Department is adequate to deal with practices which, however widespread they may be, are certainly extremely damaging so far as they exist?

Mr. Concannon

The matter has been on-going. It was a private investigation by the construction industry, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that other inquiries and other work have been going on simultaneously. We have a special branch of the DHSS in Northern Ireland which has 25 investigatory officers. Last year 416 people were convicted in Northern Ireland for working and claiming benefit. Ninety-one-21 per cent.—were in the building trade. The figures were higher than those for the previous year. In 1977, 26 employers were convicted on account of false state- ments to sustain claims to benefit. Eight of them were building trade employers. Thirty-one claimants and four employers were jailed for social security frauds. Forty-two claimants and three employers received suspended prison sentences, and 396 claimants and 19 employers were also fined.

Mr. Heffer

Can my right hon. Friend give us an indication of the precise nature of the report? I am being quite honest about this. I do not know the nature of the report. Is it in relation to the "lump"? If it is, does that mean that the United Kingdom's laws on this matter are being contravened? If so, what is the Opposition's attitude? They have constantly opposed Labour efforts to control the "lump" and all the pernicious things that go with it.

Mr. Concannon

The Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors in Northern Ireland was perturbed by the high number of people going on the unemployment register who were also registering as contractors or building trade employers, so it initiated its own investigation. I think that it was very surprised by the outcome, which laid a considerable part of the blame at the construction industry's door.