§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide figures for the number of prosecutions for(a) tax fraud and (b) social security fraud and the total sums of money involved for the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Rifkind(a) There were 26 prosecutions in Scotland for tax fraud, involving a minimum sum of £420,000, in the period from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989.
(b) 986 persons were proceeded against in the Scottish courts for social security fraud in the period from 10 February 1988 to 28 February 1989. The cost of social security fraud in these cases is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.