§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will name and describe the instructions referred to as `FIG' in his Department's S manual; and if he will place a copy of these FIG instructions in the Library;
(2) if he will list, name and describe the instructions under which staff of his Department work to investigate cases of suspected fraud by social security claimants.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe instructions and guidance on the investigation of suspected fraud by social security claimants are set out in the fraud investigator's guide. It contains details of departmental policy on fraud and operational instructions and guidance for investigators.
It is not in the public interest to publish the contents of the guide.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the number of investigations made in the last year by staff of his Department into cases of actual or suspected fraud by social security claimants; if he will estimate what proportion of the files and records 409W of these investigations contain or contained a photograph of the suspected person; and if he will describe how such photographs were obtained by staff of his Department;
(2) if he will describe the nature and extent of files and other records used by staff of his Department in the investigation of actual or suspected fraud by social security claimants; and if he will list the typical items of personal data held in such files and records in respect of the suspected person or other persons.
§ Mr. WhitneyA file is normally set up when it is decided that a fraud investigation is appropriate. In the period between 8 May 1984 and 12 March 1985 261,302 such files were raised. Typically, the files will contain the name, address, date of birth and national insurance number of the claimants and any other information relevant to the suspected fraud. Claimants are not photographed in connection with these investigations.