§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services what documents and other physical material have been obtained by staff of his Department in the last year through liaison with the police; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyI assume that the hon. Member is referring to social security benefit fraud investigations. While there will be occasions when staff liaise with the police, this is not a general feature of the investigation of benefit fraud; the information requested is not, therefore, held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether instructions issued to staff of his Department provide for written records to be kept of (a) contact with the police, (b) information sought from the police and (c) information supplied through liaison with the police; and if he will identify the official forms used for such purposes.
§ Mr. WhitneyI assume that the hon. Member is referring to social security benefit fraud investigations. Although there are no specific instructions about the keeping of records of contact with the police, general instructions have been issued to staff that all material information should be recorded, dated and signed. This information is recorded in the form of a brief memorandum.