§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what firms have been investigated by his Department or agencies in the last five years; and what was the reason in each case.
§ Miss WiddecombeIn the last five years, the Employment Service. an agency of the Employment Department, has successfully prosecuted 215 collusive employers—that is, those who actively encourage their work force to claim unemployment benefits fraudulently. The yearly breakdown is as follows:
- 1989–90: 6
- 1990–91: 9
- 1991–92: 40
- 1992–93: 55
- 1993–94 100
Details of individual employer investigations are not held centrally. Records are held at the Employment Service sector fraud office responsible for the investigation. There are 65 sector fraud offices throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
The Health and Safety Executive, NDPB of the Employment Department, also prosecutes those in breach of health and safety regulations. The figures for such prosecutions are given in Command Paper 2205. "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1993–94 to 1995–96: Employment Department Group and earlier papers".
It would not be possible to obtain details of individual employers and companies prosecuted in the last five years except at disportionate cost.