§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available, for each social security office, on the highest and lowest month for social fund applications and allocations, indicating the relevant respective figures.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 April 1989]: Information about the number of applications processed and the amounts awarded in each month is available in the Library.
Information about the highest and lowest month for social fund applications for the period 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 (the latest date for which information is available) is as follows:
217W
Social Security Office Lowest Highest Month Total Month Total Lurgan May 148 March 785 Magherafelt May 82 March 375 Newcastle May 37 March 124 Newry May 229 November 555 Newtonabbey May 277 March 513 Newtownards May 75 January 246 Omagh May 124 March 333 Portadown May 111 February 325 Shaftesbury Square May 267 March 856 Shankill May 362 March 781 Strabane May 106 March 550
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available on the proportion of the social fund budget allocated in each social security office by the end of each quarter in the year April 1988–89, indicating the total monetary value involved.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 April 1989]: Information about the amounts of awards made each month and the outstanding balance of the loans and grants budget for each social security office is available in the Library.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available for the year April 1988–89 on the total numbers of social fund applications and payments and the total value of payments in each social security office for maternity payments, funeral expenses, community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 April 1989]: Information about the number of community care grants, budgeting and crisis loan applications processed and the amounts awarded for each month since April 1988 is available in the Library.
The information requested about the number and value of maternity payments and funeral expenses is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.