HC Deb 08 November 1989 vol 159 cc665-6W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discretion his Department's local offices have over the payment of grants or loans to help people on pensions, income support and invalidity benefit meet the additional costs of purchasing necessary extra clothing for a person as in-patients in hospital; and if he will take steps to ensure that these provisions are interpreted with adequate generosity at local level to ensure that the real needs of claimants are met.

£
Supplementary benefit (to April 1988) Income support (from April 1988) Family income supplement (to April 1988) Rent rebates and rent allowances1 to April 1983)
Family Credit (from April 1988) Housing benefit (from 1982–83) Community charge benefit (from April 1989)
1979 Up to £1,200 ignored. Over £1,200, an income of 25p a week was taken into account for each complete £50 No capital limit No capital limit
November 1980 Up to £2,000 ignored. No entitlement to benefit if capital exceeded £2,000 No capital limit No capital limit

1979–80 £ November 1980–April 1988 £
People required to register for employment. 2 4
People not required to register for employment. 4 4
Lone parents. 6 112 maximum
1 £4 plus half the amount of any earnings between £4 and £20.

Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in theOfficial Report the total numbers in each region of the United Kingdom of (a) direct recipients of supplementary benefit or income support payments and (b) the estimated number of dependants of such recipients in June of each year since 1986.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Information for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The information by social security region for Great Britain is as follows:

Mr. Scott

Social fund budgeting loans and community care grants may be awarded, at the discretion of a social fund officer, to help people on income support with the cost of clothing. Hospital in-patients who are not receiving income support may be able to obtain a crisis loan where it is planned that they will be discharged from hospital within two weeks and a loan is the only means of avoiding serious risk to health or safety. Whether a loan or grant can be made is for a social fund officer to decide having regard to the circumstances of the individual case.