§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many officials in his Department are involved in investigating benefit fraud.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardPrecise figures are not available, but it is possible to estimate the number of full-time equivalent posts on the basis of records of staff time expended on benefit fraud work. In 1988–89, the last year for which figures are available, the number of full-time equivalent posts was 2,940. Benefit savings achieved in 1988–89 were £262 million.