HC Deb 27 February 1981 vol 999 cc461-2W
Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps are taken to ensure that employers and employees do not falsify wages documents in order to facilitate claims for family income supplement;

(2) how many families in receipt of family income supplement cease to be entitled on renewing claims after 12 months because gross income during the 12 months has exceeded relevant limits;

(3) what was the average annual number of family income supplement claims expiring in Northern Ireland in the period 1978 to 1980; and, over the same period, what was the average number expiring in each month in the year;

(4) what was the average annual number of applications for family income supplement received in the period 1978 to 1980 in Northern Ireland; and, over the same period, what was the average number received in each month in the year;

(5) how many families in Northern Ireland with two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and 10 or more children, respectively, are in receipt of family income supplement;

(6) how many cases of false claims for family income supplement were prosecuted in Northern Ireland during the longest and most convenient stated period of time; and with what results.

Mr. John Patten

The answers to the hon. Gentleman's questions are as follows:

  1. 1. It would be most imprudent of me to reveal details of the measures which are taken to prevent this type of fraud. I can, however, assure him that appropriate steps are taken as far as possible to ensure that wages documents are not falsified.
  2. 2. During the year ended 31 December 1980, 623 families who made renewal claims ceased to be entitled to family income supplement because at the date of renewal their gross income exceeded the prescribed amount.
  3. 3. During the period 1978 to 1980, an average 2,906 family income supplement claims expired each year and the average number expiring each month was 242.
  4. 4. During the period 1978 to 1980 an average of 12,174 claims for family income supplement were received each year and the average received each month was 1,014.

5. The information—based on a 30 per cent. sample of the register at 28 October 1980—is as follows:

Number of children Number of families
2 1,513
3 1,483
4 1,433
5 833
6 537
7 290
8 117
9 63
10 and over 40

6. Since the inception of the scheme in May 1971 until the end of 1980, nine persons were prosecuted for making false claims to family income supplement. Fines were imposed in seven cases, one person was given a suspended prison sentence and the remaining case was dismissed.