§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage pay increases have been awarded to nurses for each of the last five years.
§ Dr. VaughanApproximate average percentage increases for nurses and midwives in the pay years 1976–77 to 1980–81, were as set out in the following table:
benefits through fraud is not available, in the light of the figure of £4,793,939 given in the reply to the hon. Member on the same day at c. 164.
§ Mr. RossiThe sums in the table in c.164 were written off as irrecoverable in 1979–80.
421WWhat is not known is the total amount overpaid through fraud in any particular period. That would include, not only the amount which would in the end—sometimes two or three years later—be written off, but also the amounts already recovered during that period or likely to be recovered before the question of write-off would be considered.
No record is kept centrally of the total amount of overpayments established as being due to fraud since this would involve disproportionate administrative cost.