To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [37700]

We have made no inquiries to detect fraud by cross-checking the Department's payroll with details of benefit claimants.We would respond to inquiries made by the Benefits Agency where it had reasonable grounds for suspicion that any individual might have been involved in benefit fraud.