§ 53. Mr. CouchmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will report on progress in tackling benefit fraud on construction sites; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarConstruction sites are regularly included in benefit fraud investigations by this Department. Exercises on these sites often prove successful in identifying fraudulent claimants. For example, a recent exercise in the Kent area investigated 592 construction site workers, resulting in 177 claims to benefit being withdrawn with a net benefit saving of £167,000. We will continue to investigate benefit fraud within the industry.