§ 1. Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next expects to meet representatives of voluntary organisations to discuss the social fund.
§ The Minister for Social Security and Disabled People (Mr. Nicholas Scott)We frequently meet representatives of voluntary organisations on social security issues, including the social fund.
§ Mr. ClarkeHas the Minister had an opportunity to read the excellent article in The Scotsman this morning, written by Ruth Wishart, on the social fund? Does not it concern the Minister that she found it necessary to quote Mr. Jack McGregor, the chairperson of the Disability Income Group, saying that the fund had been catastrophic for people with disabilities? Given that it is a fund based on loans rather than grants, that it is immensely complicated to apply and that it is as mean-minded as the poll tax, will the Minister get rid of it as quickly as possible?
§ Mr. ScottNo, I am afraid that I have not yet had the chance to have my daily read of The Scotsman. I should in any case disagree with Mr. McGregor, although I am a considerable fan of the contribution that he makes in Scotland, and particularly to the workings of the Disability Income Group, but that is not an accurate description of the social fund. It is a mixture of loans and grants—2.5 million loans and 500,000 grants have been given so far. As I think that hon. Gentleman knows, in some 35,000 cases in 1989–90, those who applied for loans were in practice given grants because it was thought that that was more appropriate.
§ Dame Elaine Kellett-BowmanDoes my right hon. Friend agree that, under its previous rules, the social fund was escalating out of all control? Is he aware that my local office in Lancaster is operating within proper bounds and has had no problems in operating the new rules?
§ Mr. ScottI agree with my hon. Friend. Single payments were running at £40 million in 1979–80 and had risen to £335 million by 1985–86. I do not believe that single payments in the old form would have been sustainable, whatever party was in government, and the social fund has proved to be flexible and fair.
§ Mr. Frank FieldIs the Minister aware that some of my constituents who have literally nothing, not even a single stick of furniture, are refused help from the social fund? Does he consider that to be satisfactory, and if he does not, what does he propose to do about it?
§ Mr. ScottThe vast majority of those who are turned down for community care grants are turned down because they do not fulfil the basic eligibility conditions for community care grants.
§ Mr. ScottThe hon. Gentleman will no doubt write to me about individual cases as they come to his notice. He knows that, in the longer run, we are looking forward to the result of the work that is being done for us by the social policy research unit at York. We shall then be able to have 3 a proper assessment, on a clear and broad statistical basis, of whether the social fund is fulfilling the needs for which it was established.