§ Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual amount of expenses paid to his Department's fraud staff; and if he will break down the figure into payments for car allowance, overnight accommodation and other categories.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardCentral records are maintained of expenses paid to all departmental staff but do not identify those staff employed on fraud work. I regret that the required information could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. LoydenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what surveillance equipment is used by his Department's fraud staff; and in which areas such equipment is held.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardEquipment comprising binoculars, radios, cameras and video cameras is held by teams of fraud investigators employed in the Department's headquarters and regional offices who investigate serious organised fraud against social security payments systems. Radios, photographic cameras and binoculars are sometimes used in the investigation of benefit fraud, but limited to occasions where they are necessary effectively to conduct a fraud drive.