§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there is not a uniform process of investigation over the whole country of frauds involving welfare Giro cheques reported lost, then replaced but subsequently found to have been cashed; and if he will list those 685W areas where such frauds are not properly investigated.
§ Mr. EnnalsAll reports of lost Giro cheques are investigated in accordance with comprehensive instructions issued centrally to all the offices of my Department concerned. I am not aware of any area in which these investigations are not properly carried out.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the reasons why, when Giro cheques for welfare benefits are reported as not received, or lost, stolen or destroyed after receipt, and are replaced but are subsequently found to have been cashed, and where the person responsible for these frauds is positively identified and there is sufficient evidence obtained to support a prosecution for theft or obtaining money by deception, and the case is not one to which humanitarian considerations apply, there is not a prosecution in every case.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe question does not arise. In the circumstances described the person concerned would be prosecuted.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average amount of the Giro cheques for welfare benefits reported in 1975 as not received, or lost, stolen or destroyed after receipt and then replaced but which are subsequently found to have been cashed; what was the total sum overpaid by virtue of the 60,000 of such Giro cheques issued as replacements in 1975; and how much of that sum has been subsequently recovered by court action or otherwise.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe average value of the Giro cheques referred to by the right hon. Gentleman was 18 and their replacement cost £1.1 million. The net overpayment remaining is not known. Investigations of irregularly encashed Giro cheques and the subsequent recoveries of these excess payments through court or other action may be prolonged and it is not possible to relate the recoveries made to the year in which the original loss occurred without disproporationate effort and expense.