§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees were judged to be guilty of fraud in his Department in each year since 1989; and how many were dismissed.
§ Mr. GoodladNo member of this Department has been judged to have been guilty of fraud since 1989.
One officer in the diplomatic wing was, however, found guilty in 1992 of false accounting, served nine months' imprisonment and was dismissed from the Department. One other officer was found guilty in 1993 of false overtime claims and was also dismissed.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy for dealing with employees found guilty of fraud.
§ Mr. GoodladPossible cases of fraud are investigated fully. All cases, other than minor offences, are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider police investigation and, if appropriate, prosecution. Individuals found guilty of fraud would be subject to internal disciplinary proceedings, which would generally lead to dismissal, independently of any action taken by the Crown Prosecution Service.