HC Deb 06 February 1984 vol 53 cc512-3W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the savings from fraud investigations in 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83, respectively.

Dr. Boyson

Benefit savings from fraud investigations for the years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83 were £68 million, £96.1 million and £110.6 million, respectively. Details of savings were not recorded for 1979–80.

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of his Department's staff were concerned, exclusively with social security fraud in 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84, respectively, and what was the cost of their employment.

Dr. Boyson

In 1980–81, 1981–82, and 1982–83, 2,369, 2,281 and 2,183 staff were deployed on anti-fraud work at a cost of £33 million, £33.4 million, and £33.8 million respectively. Details of staff deployed on this work were not recorded for 1979–80 and figures for 1983–84 are not yet available.