§ 45. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many personnel are involved in the detection of fraud in social security benefits; and what is the total expenditure by his Department in this area.
§ Mr. Peter LloydPrecise figures are not available, but it is possible to estimate the numbers of full-time equivalent posts on the basis of records of staff time expended on fraud-related work. The numbers of full-time equivalent posts are 3,335. Data for the total expenditure by the Department in this area are not available. Staff costs are now some £47 million in a full year.