§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department has taken, or is proposing to take, against the fraud investigator at his local office in Bedford, who made a public statement about the high number of persons drawing unemployment benefit and in fact also working; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingI have been asked to reply.
The officer concerned has been reminded by his superiors that it is the Department's policy that public statements referring to the Department's business should be confined to what is fair, accurate and based on proven fact and should not include personal speculations not based on fact.
On the general matter of benefit fraud, I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 7th December 1977.—[Vol 940, c. 745–8.]