§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of(a) the amount recovered and (b) the amount illegally claimed but not recovered from social security claimants prosecuted since 1979.
§ Mr. PortilloThis information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of full-time equivalent posts dedicated solely or mainly to detection of social security fraud.
§ Mr. PortilloPrecise figures are not available but it is possible to calculate the amount of staff time expended within the Department on the detection of social security fraud. In October 1987 the equivalent of 2,798 full-time staff were employed on social security fraud work.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy with respect to the prosecution of social security claimants.
§ Mr. PortilloIn reaching a decision whether to prosecute each case is considered individually and various factors are taken into account. These include the nature of the offence, the social, domestic and medical circum-stances of the claimant and the amount of overpayment involved.