HC Deb 31 October 1990 vol 178 c574W
Mr. Maxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will provide for Paisley social security office the information on social fund budget and crisis loans provided in his reply to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) of 25 January,Official Report, columns 809–12;

(2) if he will provide for each of the local social security offices in Renfrew district comparable information to that provided in his answer of 6 July to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn), Official Report, column 721, for the years (a) 1985–86, (b) 1986–87, (c) 1987–88, (d) 1988–89 and (e) 1989–90;

(3) if he will list for each social security office in Renfrew district the number of social fund applications (a) submitted and (b) rejected on grounds of insufficient priorities since 1 July in each of these categories: (i) grants, (ii) budget loans and (iii) crisis loans.

Mr. Scott

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund loan applications were refused in the London borough of Newham in the financial year 1989–90 and 1990 to date due to perceived inability to repay; and what general advice was offered to those refused.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 19 October 1990]: The table shows the number of applications recorded as refused on grounds of inability to repay.

April 1989 to March 1990 April 1990 to September 1990
Canning Town 36 21
Plaistow 38 15
Woodgrange Park 45 30

All decision letters advise applicants of their right to ask for a review and refer to the citizens advice bureau or a local law centre as a source of general advice. Money advice is normally offered to applicants discovered to be in financial difficulties, including such cases where an applicant is refused because of a perceived inability to repay.

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