Social Security (Prosecutions)

HC Deb 23 November 1987 vol 123 cc81-2W

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prosecutions his Department has sought against social security claimants in each year since 1979.

Mr. Portillo

The numbers of prosecutions undertaken by the Department for fraudulent claims to social security benefits are as follows:

	Number
1979–80	16,635
1980–81	18,801
1981–82	14,206
1982–83	11,334
1983–84	5,997
1984–85	6,702
1985–86	6,679
1986–87	6,603