§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on which occasions sums in excess of £2,000 have been spent by his Department on special operations to investigate social security fraud.
§ Mr. RossiIt is not usual to cost individual special social security fraud drives as they are undertaken by staff allocated generally to the investigation of fraudulent claims made against the Department. I regret, therefore, that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which grades of his Department's officials with responsibility for administering social security benefits have authority for spending sums of £21,000 on special operations to investigate fraud.
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§ Mr. RossiThe cost of a special operation is not the sole criterion on which a decision whether or not to proceed is based. Although cost-effectiveness will be one factor, there are no laid-down financial levels of responsibility.