He admitted the sums involved were a 'pinprick' when compared with the nation's 1trillion debt.

It said it did not believe the sums involved were material in the context of the group.

The sums involved are huge - 10million a year - and the scam went on for four years.

The biggest case involved the sum of 150,000.

The tone of the entire administration was cavalier, as if the sums involved were minimal.