§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiries to detect fraud by cross-checking his Department's payroll with details of those claiming benefit he has undertaken; when these exercises took place; and how many staff were(a) suspended, (b) dismissed and (c) prosecuted as a result. [37705]
§ Mr. Arbuthnot[holding answer 17 July 1996]: None. The Ministry of Defence has neither the information nor the responsibility to make such checks. However, it would respond to inquiries made by the Benefits Agency if there were reasonable grounds for suspicion that an individual might be involved in benefit fraud.