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Fraud

Volume 481: debated on Tuesday 28 October 2008

To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of fraud exceeding £1 million the Fraud Prosecution Service has handled since September 2006. (229390)

The Fraud Prosecution Service does not routinely record this information. To obtain it, by reference to individual case files, would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases have been referred to the Joint Vetting Committee since the Fraud Prosecution Service’s formation in September 2006. (229391)

The Fraud Prosecution Service has not referred any cases to the Joint Vetting Committee since September 2006. One case was referred to the Joint Vetting Committee in early 2006 during the formation period of the Fraud Prosecution Service.

To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the expansion of the City of London’s Economic Crime Department on the flow of cases to the Serious Fraud Office. (229393)

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has worked closely with the City of London police (CoLP) for many years. Both organisations collaborate on many levels, from full joint working on cases, to sharing specialist expertise and skills. This is not expected to change following the expansion of the CoLP’s economic crime department. Moreover, as the SFO continues its transformation programme, it is continually building on its relationships with other organisations and will continue to work closely with the CoLP.

The SFO will continue to work on those cases that are proper to its remit, that is, cases involving serious or complex fraud and corruption. It will also continue to forge links with other organisations, supporting them as required with specialist expertise.

To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost to the Serious Fraud Office was of reviewing 36 Fraud Prosecution Service case files for Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's Review of the Fraud Prosecution Service. (229394)

A member of staff was seconded to the team at Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and there was no additional cost to the organisation outside of the normal remuneration.