§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 May,Official Report, column 617, how much his Department has spent on private investigation services during the last two years; if he will list those companies which have been employed by his Department during this period; what safeguards his Department took to ensure that these agencies were members of the Association of British Investigators; and what guidelines are currently in operation within his Department as regards this matter.
§ Mr. HagueThis Department spent £116,522 in 1992–93 and £65,261 in the 1993–94 year on the service of legal documents in connection with the collection of 367W arrears of national insurance contributions. The private and commercial investigations company used, which is not named for reasons of commercial confidentiality, is a member of the Association of British Investigators. No departmental guidelines are currently in operation with regard to this matter.