§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the increasing numbers of persons found guilty of social security fraud in the West Midlands due to them operating as part-time private car hire drivers, he will issue instructions that public authorities for which he is responsible shall use only licensed taxi operators.
§ Mr. PrenticeNo. Such instructions would be offensive to the great majority of car-hire firms who run their businesses honestly, while failing to deal with social security fraud within firms who do not happen to provide services for public authorities within my field. If the hon. Member will give me details of any fraudulent claimants of whom he is aware, I shall see that they are vigorously investigated and if possible prosecuted, as other such cases have been.