HL Deb 29 November 1982 vol 436 cc1128-9WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prosecutions for (a) fraud and (b) knowingly and recklessly making false statements in respect of applications for farm capital grants are (a) under way and (b) under consideration in respect of applications for farm capital grants made since October 1980.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Ferrers)

Prosecution procedures for criminal offences under Farm Capital Grant Schemes are not the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland as they are in England and Wales.

It is not possible to give the information in the precise form requested, but since October 1980 in the United Kingdom 108 cases have been investigated and 42 prosecutions taken, which come into the categories broadly described in the Question. In a further 3 cases prosecutions have been instituted. No central record is kept of cases which are under consideration.