§ 8. Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what percentage of income support claimants aged under 60 years are repaying social fund loans by deductions from their benefit payments.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Gentleman to my earlier reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing).
§ Mr. MichaelMay I refer the Minister to his reply and ask that he listens to his own words? Does he agree that it is outrageous for a Minister to admit that there are people who are getting such a low income from the Government that they cannot afford to repay a loan and that therefore the Government refuse them a loan? Is not it outrageous for him to say that they will get not help but only advice from the Government? Is not he aware that he is talking about the poorest people of our society who want help, not advice from him and his Department?
§ Mr. ScottAs I said—perhaps the hon. Gentleman did not hear my reply—only a tiny percentage of people are refused help on the basis that they are unable to repay a loan. Some people may be refused loans but be given a community care grant instead.
§ Mr. McAllionIt has been alleged that the Department is about to issue instructions to the officers who administer the social fund that they must keep within budget next year on pain of disciplinary action. Will the Minister take this opportunity to deny any such possibility being considered by the Department, and does he agree that the only condition that should be applied to social fund applications is whether the applicant needs help from the social fund?
§ Mr. ScottIt is the duty of local office managers so to manage their budgets that they stay within them over the year. Last year, we gave extra help to local offices that were under stress, which showed the continuing flexibility of the social fund.