HC Deb 24 October 1995 vol 264 cc505-6W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of those years what was the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated and (2) subsequently recovered. [39125]

Losses (£) due to proven staff fraud
1991–92 1992–93
Number Loss Recovered Number Loss Recovered
Lord Chancellor's Department1 2 11 313,754 7,753 7 58,890 2,026
Northern Ireland Court Service 2 1,166.70 nil 1 17,507.01 265.70
Non-Departmental Public Bodies3 1 324 324 1 500 nil
Total 12 314,078 8,076 8 59,389 2,026
1993–94 1994–95
Number Loss Recovered Number Loss Recovered
Lord Chancellor's Department1 2 4 180,876 54,961 7 23,703 72
Northern Ireland Court Service nil nil nil 1 20 nil
Non-Departmental Public Bodies3 nil nil nil nil nil nil
Total 4 180,876 54,961 7 23,703 72
1 The Public Trust Office became an executive agency on 1 July 1994. For ease of comparison data since then has been separated.
2 The Court Service became an agency on 1 April 1995.
3 The frauds shown in the table above relate to the Legal Aid Board. There are no reported frauds from any of LCD's other NDPBs.

Letter from Edward Beardsall to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 October 1995:

In the absence of the Chief Executive who is presently away from the office I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning the total number of all forms of fraud committed by employees in the Land Registry for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95 and for each of these years the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated and (2) subsequently recovered. All cases related either to misuse of official postage, misuse of the telephone or abuse of the flexible working hours system. I can provide the following information:

Total sum
Number of cases Misappropriated £ Recovered £
1991–92 7 380.66 380.66
1992–93 4 (Minor sums of less than £10)
1993–94 4 760 760
1994–95 1 58 58

I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 24 October 1995:

I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about employee fraud.There were no cases of fraud committed by employees of the Public Record Office in the years that you list.
Mr. John M. Taylor

The information requested is set out in the table. In many cases we cannot establish whether a fraud was by an employee or an outsider, and by no means all attempted frauds succeeded. The table therefore includes known cases of actual fraud attributable to staff. Some further recoveries may have been made since the records for each year were compiled, and further recoveries may be made, especially in relation to frauds in 1994–95. I have asked the chief executives of the Public Record Office and Her Majesty's Land Registry to reply to the hon. Member directly.