§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what national or regional guidelines have been issued regarding access to criminal records by officials of his Department concerning social security claimants; on how many occasions in each region of the United Kingdom in each year since 1970 such access has been used; what has been the purpose of seeking access to such records; if access has depended on the discretion of chief police officers; and how many claimants in each region in each year have been denied benefit as a result.
§ Mr. NewtonNo guidelines have been issued to officials regarding access to criminal records of social security claimants since such information has no bearing on benefit entitlement. However, the investigation of serious, organised crime which relates to social security matters and which involves considerable sums of money is pursued in close liaison with the police. For example, in a recent case, an offender was sent to prison for 5½ years for manipulation of stolen order books with a potential value of over £70,000.