§ Mr. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in which travel-to-work areas his Department's regional benefit investigation team is currently operating; and in which travel-to-work areas they have operated in the past 12 months;
(2) how many claimants of unemployment benefit have been interviewed in each travel-to-work area in the last 12 months by his Department's regional benefit investigation team; and how many claimants in each travel-to-work area subsequently withdrew their claim to unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkRegional benefit investigation teams are currently operating in:
Middlesbrough Truro Carlisle Paignton Gosport Newquay Woolston Barry Farnham Pontypridd Southend Madley Torquay Wellington Eccles Dumfries Loughborough Chester Cumnock Hull Information about the number of claimants of unemployment benefit who have been interviewed in each travel-to-work area in the last 12 months and of those who subsequently withdrew their claims to benefit is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many claimants of unemployment benefit have been prosecuted for fraudulent claims following interview by his Department's regional benefit investigation team; and how many of the prosecutions were successful, listed by travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkProsecution of claimants following an interview with a regional benefit investigation team are not separately recorded. Information is not kept on a travel-to-work basis.