§ 37. Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken, since the report of the Fisher Committee on the abuse of social security benefits to end such abuse; and how many prosecutions have been brought against wrongful claimants.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe Fisher Committee reported in March 1973. It concluded that in general the Department had adopted sensible measures and had made economical use of the resources available for the prevention and detection of abuse.
The committee's specific suggestions were considered by the Government of the day and, as announced to the House by my predecessor on 28th March 1973—[Vol. 853, c. 363–4.] many of them were accepted and have been implemented as quickly as resources allowed.
The total of prosecutions for all types of fraud in 1973 was just under 12,000, much the same as for 1972; convictions were obtained in about 98 per cent. of these cases.