§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the number and type of suspected fraud cases which have been investigated in agencies answerable to Northern Ireland departments by department and year since 1995, indicating how many(a) proved erroneous, (b) required no further action and (c) were proven; and what were the penalties in respect of (c). [55574]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe information for the Northern Ireland Departments is listed in the table.
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Internal fraud Department/year Type of fraud (a) (b) (c) DED 1996 1 False claim concerning salary cheque — — 1 Internally disciplined 1 Forged invoices — — 1 Dismissed DFP 1996 1 False Travel Claims — — 2 Dismissed 1 Theft DHSS 1995 1 Misclaiming of fees due — — 1 Dismissed 2 Social Security Benefit irregularities — — 1 Dismissed 1 Suspended without pay 1996 1 Misappropriation of Funds — — 1 Officer responsible not traced 1 Overcharging — — 1 Police investigation being handled nationally 2 Social Security Benefit irregularities — — 1 Suspended without pay 1 Still under investigation 1997 2 Misappropriation of Funds — — 1 Currently at Court 1 Disciplinary hearing—officer resigned 3 Misclaiming of fees due 1 — 1 Currently at Court 1 No criminal offence—referred to disciplinary committee 1 Understatement of Earnings — — 1 Under police investigation 3 Social Security Benefit irregularities — — 1 Dismissed 2 Still under investigation—1 officer suspended without pay 1998 6 Misclaiming of fees due 1 — 3 Under police investigation— one of which referred to General Medical Council 2 Under internal investigation 1 Misuse of official telephone — — 1 Dismissed 1 Overcharging — — 1 Currently under internal investigation 1 Prescription misuse — — 1 Under police investigation 1 Social Security Benefit irregularities — — 1 Dismissed DOE 1995 1 Theft — — 1 Demoted 1996 1 Fraudulent travel claims — — 1 Dismissed 8 Theft 6 — 1 Suspended 1 Dismissed 1 Collusion with a supplier 1 — — 1 Misappropriation of Grant-Aid — — 1 Referred to RUC—investigation ongoing 4 Patronage of contractor 3 — 1 Internal Audit investigation ongoing 2 Fraudulent activity by water service suppliers — — 1 Prosecution 1 Under consideration 1997 5 Theft — — 1 Further action pending 1 Issue of Final Formal Warning 1 Issue of Final Formal Warning 1 Dismissed 2 Cases still under investigation 1 Misuse of office resources — 1 DHSS1 1995–96 14,731 SSA benefit fraud cases2 7,698 4,714 2,319 6 Prison sentences 39 Suspended sentences 550 Fines imposed 153 Community Service or Conditional Discharge 1996–97 12,440 SSA benefit fraud cases2 6,321 4,877 1,242 6 Prison sentences 29 Suspended sentences 387 Fines imposed 153 Community Service or Conditional Discharge 1997–98 4,314 Working & Claiming 5,971 4,565 1,089 901 Living together as husband & wife 4 Prison sentences 6,410 Other2 47 Suspended sentences 313 Fines imposed 11,625 107 Community Service or Conditional Discharge 1998–99 1,690 Working & Claiming 2,256 2,014 515 314 Living together as husband & wife 4 Suspended sentences 2,781 Other2 41 Fines imposed 4,785 43 Community Service or Conditional Discharge 1997 87 Fraudulent rates claims by the public — 47 10 Cases referred to Fraud and Prosecution Branch, DHSS 30 Resolved internally by Rate Collection Agency 1 External fraud relates to fraud by Social Security Agency customers. These statistics are held on a tax year basis. 2 No breakdown available 3 The number of proven cases does not equal the number of cases on which legal proceedings are taken because not all cases are suitable for prosecution. In cases where fraud has been proven (whether or not legal proceedings have been pursued) action is normally taken to seek recovery of the overpayment.