§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action, disciplinary and otherwise, his Department has taken regarding the statement by three fraud officers, Mr. P. D. Jones, Mr. A. M. Sobey, and Mr. L. C. Milton, of Exeter and Torquay, in the Civil Service magazine "Red Tape" that some 25 per cent. of persons drawing unemployment benefit were fraudulent in one way or another; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. OrmeI understand that appropriate disciplinary action has been taken by the Department of Employment, whose officers these are. As regards the contents of their statement, the hon. Member knows that I am always prepared to look at firm evidence as opposed to speculation about the extent of benefit fraud.