§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by departmental region, expenditure on(a) resettlement units and (b) grants to voluntary organisations and local authorities in 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1990–91 to date.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is not available in the exact form requested, as expenditure on these grants is not recorded by DSS region. However, information is held as follows:
a. Expenditure on resettlement units Region 1988–89 £000s 1989–90 £000s 11990–91 £000s Scotland 550 645 411 North Eastern 1,104 1,330 722 North Western 1,086 1,235 813 Midlands 2,200 2,466 1,477 Wales and South Western 816 973 633 London North 1,408 1,558 925 London South 5,403 6,291 3,808 Total 12,567 14,498 8,789 1 To 31 December. 251W
b. Grants to voluntary organisations and/or local authorities £000s £000s £000s Scotland Nil Nil Nil North Eastern 124 164 587 North Western 22 119 55
£000s £000s £000s Midlands 43 579 939 Wales and South Western 100 655 630 London North1 1,768 1,900 1,322 London South1 Total2 2,057 3,417 3,533 Note:1 A split of grants between London North and London South Regions is not available. 2 Grants were also made to non replacement projects as follows £000s £000s £000s Scotland 11 11 8 England and Wales 205 268 190 216 279 198 A split of these figures between the departmental regions is not available.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a timetable for the closure of resettlement units.
§ Miss WiddecombeThere is no specific timetable for the resettlement unit replacement programme. The Resettlement Agency, which is responsible for implementing the Government's plans to replace the 22 Department of Social Security resettlement units, is required to replace two units in 1990–91 and a further four in 1991–92. The first two will be the units in Brighton and Fazakerley (Liverpool), on 31 March 1991. Final decisions for 1991–92 have not yet been made.