§ 17. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications for unemployment benefit were refused in 1989; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarNo applications were refused, but under established procedures independent adjudication officers made some 634,500 decisions to disallow or disqualify claims for unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Minister aware that an increasing number of people are losing unemployment benefit, because, even though they qualified for it by paying the stamps while at work, many employers nowadays do not hand the money over to the state? That means that when people become unemployed they are unable to get unemployment benefit because the stamps have not been paid. Will the Minister now reverse the process of 1984, when this Tory Government passed a law enabling such employers not to hand over the money and not to be prosecuted? Is not it time that they were prosecuted for taking money out of somebody's pocket and depriving that person of benefit?
§ Mr. EggarI am sure that in the few places where employers have not followed the correct procedures, action is taken. I wish that the hon. Gentleman had welcomed the fact that we have saved some £62 million as a result of fraud investigations over the past year.
§ Mr. DickensIs not it about time that the Opposition showed more concern about benefit fraud? It is disgusting for somebody to register as unemployed and not to give evidence that he is actively seeking employment. Many people are seeking a free ride.
§ Mr. EggarMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is for precisely that reason that we have put significant additional resources into work to ensure that fraud is uncovered.