HC Deb 04 May 1989 vol 152 cc219-21W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has under review for social fund officers to be redeployed on takeup campaigns; what resources he proposes to allocate to this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The Department has no plans at present to redeploy social fund officers specifically for the purpose of dealing with take-up campaigns. There are already sufficient staff employed in local offices to deal with variable levels of demand for social fund awards. In the event of a significant unexpected local increase in the

Refusals of Social Fund loans and grants where selected reasons given, 1988–89
Loans Grants
number of refusals where selected reason given as a percentage of all refusals number of refusals where selected reason given as a percentage of all refusals
Applicant
not in receipt of IS 35,589 9.5 13,689 9.4
not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks 99,817 26.6 n/a —
Amount > £30 (not travelling expenses) 11,930 3.2 3,298 2.3
Inability to repay 14,513 3.9 n/a —
Insufficient SF funds, priority too low 83,888 22.3 11,864 8.1
No serious damage or risk to health or safety 22,455 6.0 n/a —

n/a = not applicable.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the areas in which social fund allocations increased, decreased or remained the same from April 1989.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

A list giving the information requested has been placed in the Library.

Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will monitor the effects of social fund loans on the living standards of income support claimants during the period when they are repaying them.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

We have recently commissioned the social policy research unit at York university to carry out a programme of detailed research on the social fund. This will include case studies of people who have taken out a social fund loan and will take account of the effect of repayment arrangements.

Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is done to ensure that deductions made from the income support allowances of claimants repaying social fund loans leave them with enough income to meet their essential needs;

(2) how quickly people who receive social fund loans are expected to repay them, assuming loans of (a) £50, (b) £100, (c) £150 and (d) £200.

numbers of social fund applications, the local office manager would manage resources according to competing priorites.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of refusals for social fund applications for both grants and loans, due to (i) applicant not being on income support, (ii) amount requested below £30 minimum, (iii) applicant not considered credit-worthy, (iv) applicant did not satisfy six-month qualification rule, (v) applicant not considered a high priority group, (vi) applicant not requesting a high priority item and (vii) insufficient funds in local office budget both actual and as a percentage of all refusals for the year April 1988 to March 1989.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Provisional figures for the period 11 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 are set out in the table. The figures relate to the number of occasions on which the particular reason for refusal was used. It is possible for an individual application to be refused for more than one reason.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The period and rate of repayments of a social fund loan do not depend solely on the amount of the loan. In agreeing repayment terms with the applicant before the loan is made, account is taken of the applicant's income, existing commitments and commitments which are likely to arise during the repayment period. Repayments are, however, expected to be completed within 78 weeks, although this can be extended to 104 weeks in certain circumstances. If an applicant finds difficulty in meeting the repayments, or if his circumstances change, he should discuss his problems with the staff of the local office.

Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many and what percentage of children born in England during 1988 were eligible for maternity payments through the social fund; and what was the average payment made;

(2) how many and what percentage of children born in Scotland during 1988 were eligible for maternity payments through the social fund; and what was the average payment made.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The information is not available in the form requested. During 1988, 654,0001 and 66,0001 children were born in England and Scotland respectively, with 141,2311 and 18,3241 social fund maternity payments being made. These payments were set at a flat rate—£80 before 11 April 1988 and £85 thereafter—and were payable to income support and family credit beneficiaries, subject to a £500 capital disregard, for each child expected, born or adopted.

1 Provisional figures.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state, for the financial year 1988–89, the proportion of social fund expenditure which has become the subject of civil legal proceedings on the ground of fraud.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 20 April 1989]: I regret that the information requested is not available.

During the year ended 31 March 1989, however, 229 social fund cases were submitted for consideration of civil proceedings in England and Wales, and 13 in Scotland.