§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library copies of any guidelines issued to members of the benefit fraud teams operating within the Department of Health and Social Security local offices.
§ Mr. LyellInstructions and guidance for the investigation of suspected social security fraud are set out in the fraud investigators' guide. It contains details of departmental policy on fraud and operational instructions and guidance for investigators, including those who are members of benefit fraud teams.
It is not in the public interest to publish the contents of this guide.
§ Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish details of the numbers of benefit fraud teams both currently in existence and also planned; if he will define the local offices which form the geographical area for each team's work; if he will define the administrative location of each team; and if he will give details of the staff complement of each team.
§ Mr. LyellThirty-one benefit fraud teams have been established nationally and there are no plans at present to increase this number. Each team operates within the boundaries of a management group of offices, providing support for the offices within that group. The teams are administered by their appropriate regional office, though for practical purposes they may be based within the group of offices they assist. Teams usually comprise 16 or 17 officers.