§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the nature of the material relating to claimants obtained by local officers of his Department from police criminal records and the vehicle 307W licensing office; and what are the reasons for the compilation and retention of such records by his Department.
§ Mr. NewtonLocal officers do not obtain information about claimants to benefit from police criminal records, and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 28 January at column 65. On occasions, during an investigation into suspected benefit fraud it may be necessary for details of the keepership of a vehicle to be obtained from the vehicle licensing centre.