§ Mr. Goodhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social security benefit payment books have been returned by claimants stating, without reasons, that the person concerned no longer wished to claim the benefits, following his decision to make greater efforts to detect fraudulent claims.
§ Mr. PrenticeThere is no requirement for claimants to give reasons for returning their benefit payment books and inquiries are not usually made to ascertain them; they may well just establish that benefit was paid legitimately. In consequence, we do not keep records of360W the number of books returned without reasons being given, and the information would be disproportionately expensive to obtain.