HC Deb 17 July 1996 vol 281 cc521-2W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what inquiries to detect fraud by cross-checking his Department's payroll with details of those claiming benefit he has undertaken; when these exercises took place; and how many staff were(a) suspended, (b) dismissed and (c) prosecuted as a result. [37703]

Mr. Streeter

No exercise has been carried out within the Lord Chancellor's Department, Court Service or Public Trust Office to detect fraud by cross-checking the Department's payroll with details of those claiming benefit. Consequently, no suspensions, dismissals or prosecutions can be attributed to such checks. However, the Chessington Computer Centre, which provides the payroll service to the Department, and the Department of Social Security have arrangements which are designed to ensure that employees claiming benefit can be identified.