§ Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the investigations carried out by his Department into the case of the three former employees of the Home Counties Cleaning Group Services Limited and alleged national insurance irregularities.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1981, c. 38]: The Inland Revenue is responsible for collecting national insurance contributions in conjunction with the operation of the pay-as-you-earn tax scheme. Allegations of irregularities made in the press last autumn are being investigated by that Department. However, the rules of confidentiality which protect companies' and individuals' tax affairs do not permit disclosure of the details of these investigations.