Benefits (Fraudulent Claims)

Mr. George
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the numbers of claimants accused of fraud under the supplementary benefits scheme and under the National Insurance Scheme, respectively, and the numbers of claimants convicted in each case for each year since 1964.

Mr. O'Malley
The number of claimants accused before the courts of benefit fraud were: -------------
|Year |     |
-------------
|1967*|2,219|
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|1968 |3,763|
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|1969 |4,398|
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|1970 |3,904|
-------------
|1971 |4,767|
-------------
|1972 |5,891|
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|1973†|6,103|
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-------------
|Year |     |
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|1964 |1,661|
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|1965 |1,332|
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|1966 |1,343|
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|1967 |1,264|
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|1968 |1,745|
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|1969 |1,924|
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|1970 |2,217|
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|1971 |2,910|
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|1972 |3,373|
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|1973†|3,001|
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It is estimated that some 98 per cent. of these claimants were convicted of fraud.