§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many prosecutions in Wales have been brought against people for fraudulently claiming invalidity benefit in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of benefit fraud is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Richard to Mr. Rod Richards, dated 28 June 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Wales asking, how many prosecutions in Wales have been brought against people for fraudulently claiming invalidity benefit in each year since 1979.
I regret that I am unable to provide all the information you requested.
The Sector Fraud Organisation has only been in existence since January 1991 and the information you asked for has only been collated in the format requested from I April 1992. The first full year for which figures are available is, therefore, the year ended 31 March 1993.
In that period there were twenty-one prosecutions in Wales for offences involving Invalidity Benefit. In all twenty-one cases guilty verdicts were returned.
I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.