§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide the following information for each of the supplementary benefit offices at Cheltenham, Rivershill House, Thames North, Scarborough Street, London, E1, and Thames South, Marshalsea Road, London, SE1, respectively: (a) the number of full time officers employed at these offices to investigate possible fraudulent social security claims during the last year for which figures are available, (b) the total number of social security fraud cases at these offices for which convictions were obtained in that year, (c) the total amount of social security benefits involved in those cases of fraud for which convictions were obtained in that year, (d) the total number of social security claims received at these offices in that year and (e) the total amount of money paid out in social security benefits during that year.
§ Mr. RossiThe available information is as follows: the other information requested could only be produced at disproportionate costs.
Thames North Year ending 14 April 1981 Thames South Year ending 14 April 1981 Cheltenham Year ending 30 November 1981 (a) Number of full time officers employed to investigate possible fraud 3 2 5 (b) Total number of fraud cases for which convictions were obtained *79 *118 †87 (d) Total number of social security claims received 75,607 40,693 ‡42,327 * All cases taken by Police under Theft Act. † 77 Supplementary benefit and 10 Contributory benefit. Majority of cases taken under Supplementary Benefits Act and National Insurance Acts. ‡ 13,280 Supplementary benefit and 29,047 Contributory benefit.