§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of false or fraudulent claims of supplementary benefit have been discovered in 1970 and each subsequent year; and how many cases were investigated in 1970, and each subsequent year.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe numbers of false or faudulent supplementary benefit claims discovered between 1970 and 1974 were as follows:
1970 13,400 1971 13,600 1972 15,350 1973 15,550 1974 17,350 Many cases of suspicion are investigated by local office staffs and no record is kept of numbers, but figures for the cases dealt with by special investigators are:
447W
1970 19,700 1971 22,150 1972 23,000 1973 23,850 1974 27,000
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will give an estimate of the losses from overpayment of supplementary benefit due to suspected fraud for 1970 and each subsequent year.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI will write to the hon. Member.