§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions in respect of fraudulent mortgage interest relief at source claims have been instituted in each year since the inception of the scheme; and with what result.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThere were three criminal prosecutions by the police in 1987–88, all of which were successful. There have been another 10 so far this year of which eight were successful. Further prosecutions are pending.
§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are currently employed in administering and calculating mortgage interest relief at source entitlements; and what were the numbers in each year since the inception of the scheme.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe estimated current number in terms of full time staff equivalents is 820. The numbers on the same basis in the earlier years were:
Numbers 1983–84 1,000 1984–85 1,125 1985–86 1,000 1986–87 950 1987–88 950