§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by year since 1979, how many cases of alleged major fraud were reported in the United Kingdom; and how many, by year, were prosecuted.
§ Mr. MellorIt is not possible to separate major frauds as the available statistics are not analysed according to the amount involved in the fraud. Numbers of offences of fraud recorded in England and Wales in each year from 1974 to 1984 are published in table 2.14 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1984" (Cmnd. 9621). For those offences dealt with by the courts, the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the offence. The number of persons prosecuted for fraud, and the sentences imposed on those found guilty, are published annually in tables S1.1(A), S2.1(A) and S2.4 of "Criminal Statistics 1984", Supplementary Volumes 1 and 2.