HC Deb 07 December 1990 vol 182 cc228-9W
Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) women and (b) men are currently serving prison sentences for social security fraud; and if he will give these figures for the years 1970 to 1990, respectively.

Mr. John Patten

The available information given in the table relates to the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody each year for social security offences for 1970 to 1989. Data for 1990 are not yet available.

Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for social security offences1 by sex from 1970 to 1989
England and Wales
Immediate custody
Year Males Females
1970 190 12
1971 143 7
1972 166 10
1973 134 7
1974 119 1
1975 167 5
1976 237 11
1977 300 24
1978 301 47
1979 372 44
1980 404 46
1981 335 50
1982 326 37
1983 245 26
1984 181 18
1985 170 16
1986 154 13
1987 139 22
1988 86 14
1989 61 11
1 Until 1984, data includes offences under the National Insurance Acts.