HC Deb 17 April 1980 vol 982 cc696-8W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish details of allowable expense claims for members of his Department's investigation branch indicating any special allowances for those working any distance from home;

(2) if any member of his Department's investigation branch has been transferred or prosecuted as a result of any expense claim in the past five years;

(3) if members of his Department's investigation branch have to submit detailed expense claims;

(4) what is the mileage rate per mile paid to his Department's investigation branch members using their own cars;

(5) if any members of his Department's investigation branch are supplied with motor cars;

(6) if he will list the total cost of his Department's investigation branch for the latest convenient period, showing a breakdown between salaries, expenses and other costs.

Mr. Prentice

[pursuant to his reply, 3 April 1980, Vol. 982, c. 401–2]: The Department does not have a fraud investigation branch as such. The way in which cases of suspected fraud are investigated depends on their nature and complexity. Broadly speaking, the more straightforward cases are investigated by local office staff; more complex or time-consuming cases by "special investigators" based at regional offices; more highly organised social security frauds by a small number of specialist staff based at Headquarters.

Officers engaged in such work are entitled to subsistence allowances in accordance with normal civil service rules, to meet the extra expenses necessarily incurred by absence on official business from their homes or offices. For the grades of officers involved these allowances are as follows:

  1. (a) for absences of more than five hours but not more than 10 hours—£1.25;
  2. (b) for absences of more than 10 hours—£3;
  3. (c) for an absence involving an overnight stay away from home or headquarters (a comparatively rare occurrence with this type of work) £18.30 per night.

In the five years to 31 December 1979, only two officers were transferred from investigation duties because of irregularities or suspected irregularities in the completion of expenses claims. Neither were prosecuted.

Detailed claims for expenses have to be submitted and such claims have to be certified by a senior officer, who is required to satisfy himself that the claims are valid, and that, in particular, that the travelling has been done and that journeys were planned with due regard to economy and time and money.

No investigating officers in this Department are supplied with motor cars. Where a private car is used during the investigation of a suspected fraud, the standard Civil Service rates of mileage allowance are payable as follows:

  1. (a) motor cars of engine capacity of over 1,750cc: 18.7p;
  2. (b) motor cars of engine capacity of 1,001cc1,750cc: 16.4p;
  3. (c) others: 14.1p.

Mileage allowances ranging from 7.8p to 3.5p are paid for motor cycles, and reasonable parking toll, etc. expenses may be reimbursed.

Information about the salaries of officers engaged in fraud investigation—some of whom are employed part-time on such duties—and other expenses is not maintained centrally, and it is not possible to provide the specific costs requested without disproportionate expense. However, I assume the hon. Member is mainly interested in the costs applicable to special investigators and the specialist headquarters in the unit. On the basis of the number of staff in post on 1 March 1980–454 special investigators, and four higher executive officers and four executive officers in the headquarters unit—it is estimated that the annual cost would be of the order of £5 million, made up as follows:

  1. (a) pay and National Insurance contributions £3 million;
  2. (b) travel, subsistence and other expenses £1 million;
  3. (c) services provided by other Government Departments £1 million.