HC Deb 12 December 1988 vol 143 cc454-5W
Mr. Corbett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many applications for a loan or community care grant have been made for help with payment of a fuel supply since April 1988 to the Erdington and Perry Barr offices of his Department; how many of these have been awarded; and what is the total cost of such grants;

(2) how many applications for a loan or community care grant have been made for reconnection of a fuel supply since April to the Erdington and Perry Barr offices of his Department; how many of these have been awarded; and what is the total cost of such loans and grants.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Other than where the need arises as a consequence of an emergency or disaster, awards from the social fund in respect of the cost of mains fuel consumption and associated standing charges are excluded from payment by direction of the Secretary of State. In the period from April 1988 in the Erdington and Perry Barr local offices the latest available figures show that there has been a total of 72 applications for assistance with fuel meter reconnection, installation or re-siting costs of which 36 have received awards totalling £4,787.43.

Mr. Corbett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many community care grant applications have been made each month since April 1988 to the Erdington and Perry Barr offices of his Department; how many have been awarded; and what is the total cost of such grants;

(2) how many applications each month have been made for a community care grant for families under stress; how much was awarded; and what percentage this represents of the community care grant budget each month since April to the Erdington and Perry Barr offices of his Department.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Information on the numbers, by month, of applications for social fund community care grants, together with the numbers and value of awards made is available in the Library. Details of applications for awards of such grants to families under stress are not recorded as a separate identifiable category and the information which the hon. Member seeks could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Corbett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund loan applications have been made each month since April to the Erdington and Perry Barr offices of his Department; how many of these have been awarded; and what is the cost of such loans.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Information on numbers of applications for social fund loans received, processed and awarded, listed by local office, including information on budget allocations and expenditure, is available in the Library.