§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what police investigations are presently being conducted into cases of fraud concerning the granting of career development loans; what sums of money are involved; and if she will make a statement. [9706]
§ Mr. PaiceThe police have been asked to investigate eight individual applications for career development loans which are suspected of being fraudulent. The total amount loaned by the banks on these eight cases is £103,204.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce new safeguards to protect the career development loan scheme from fraudulent applications. [9707]
§ Mr. PaiceThe career development loan scheme has stringent and effective fraud prevention measures built in. Currently, I have no plans to add to them.