§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if local social security offices are being instructed to draw up lists for fraud investigations by special visiting teams; what categories of benefit recipients are to be included; if he will publish the instructions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr.RossiNo doubt the hon. Member has in mind the Department's proposal to introduce nationally a technique called specialist claims control, which will be based on, but will not be indentical with, procedures which have been operated in certain parts of the country for some time. The guidance, which will differ in some respects from that which was issued locally in the regions in question, has not yet been issued. We do not intend publishing it.
The essence of the procedure is that cases will be selected for a closer than normal review. The selection will 33W not be based on categories of claimant but according to criteria of circumstances which experience suggests may make the review worthwhile. It is a mistake to regard the review as a fraud investigation; fraud action will be taken only when the review shows suspicious circumstances.