HC Deb 22 February 1988 vol 128 cc82-4W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the total number of claimants in Scotland who have been refused unemployment benefit pursuant to the recommendations of the claimants investigation team (Scotland); and if he will break this figure down according to the reasons for withdrawal of benefit for each year from 1979 to 1987, and for each unemployment benefit office;

(2) what is the total number of claimants in Scotland who have been refused unemployment benefit pursuant to the recommendations of local claimant investigation teams; and if he will break this figure down according to the reasons for withdrawal of benefit for each year from 1979 to 1987 and for each unemployment benefit office.

Mr. Lee

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the Department of Employment's fraud investigators. While these investigators may in the nature of their work raise questions as to a claimant's entitlement to benefit, they have no authority to disallow a person's claim. That can be done only by independent adjudication authorities. It is, of course, the case that, following an investigation of possible benefit fraud, some claimants decide to modify or withdraw their claims.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the total number of unemployment benefit claimants referred to local claimant investigation teams for each of the unemployment benefit offices in Scotland for each year from 1979 to 1987;

(2) what is the total number of unemployment benefit claimants referred to the claimant investigation teams (Scotland) for each of the unemployment benefit offices in Scotland for each year from 1979 to 1987;

(3) what is the total of unemployment benefit claimants referred to the claimant investigation team (Scotland) in Scotland; and if he will break this figure down according to the reason's for referral, for each year from 1979 and for each unemployment benefit office;

(4) what is the total number of unemployment benefit claimants referred to local claimants investigation teams in Scotland; and if he will break this figure down according to the reasons for referral, for each year from 1979 and for each unemployment benefit office;

(5) what is the total number of unemployment benefit claimants referred to local claimant investigation teams and the claimant investigation team (Scotland) in Scotland; and if he will break this figure down for each unemployment benefit office for each year from 1979.

Mr. Lee

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the Department of Employment's fraud investigators. Information is not available on the number of referrals to such investigators in the form requested. For Scotland as a whole, the total number of cases referred for investigation since 1984–85 is as follows:

1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 11987–88
To centrally based fraud investigators n.a. 405 448 365
To locally based fraud investigators 6,880 11,799 14,561 10,433
1 The figures cover the period from 1 April 1987–31 December 1987 only.
n.a. Not available

Note:

It is not possible to break these figures down by reasons for referral. In addition to the cases shown fraud investigators will have examined a number of other claims on their own initiative.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will place in the Library copies of any guidelines or rules of procedures issued to local claimant investigation teams relating to the interviewing of unemployed benefit claimants;

(2) if he will place in the Library copies of any guidelines or rules of procedures issued to the claimant investigation team of Scotland relating to the interviewing of unemployed benefit claimants.

Mr. Lee

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to guidelines or rules of procedure issued to the Department of Employment's fraud investigators. I will place copies of the code of conduct issued to all such investigators in the Library. It would not be appropriate to make public the more detailed procedural guidance issued to staff.