§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the numbers of claimants accused of fraud under the supplementary benefits scheme and under the National Insurance Scheme, respectively, and the numbers of claimants convicted in each case for each year since 1964.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe number of claimants accused before the courts of benefit fraud were:
SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT Year 1967* 2,219 1968 3,763 1969 4,398 1970 3,904 1971 4,767 1972 5,891 1973† 6,103
NATIONAL INSURANCE BENEFITS INCLUDING FAM Year 1964 1,661 1965 1,332 1966 1,343 1967 1,264 1968 1,745 1969 1,924 1970 2,217 1971 2,910 1972 3,373 1973† 3,001 * The first full year of the scheme. † The latest figures available. It is estimated that some 98 per cent. of these claimants were convicted of fraud.