§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the latest figure he has available for the cumulative loan debt of the social fund and his estimate of what proportion is likely to be written off.
§ Mr. ScottThe cumulative social fund loan debt as at 31 March 1991 was £142 million. No social fund loans have been written off. All social fund loans are recoverable. Although there may be some circumstances where recovery is abandoned, this may be only temporary.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for review by a social fund inspector were outstanding for more than one month at the most recent date for which this information is available.
§ Mr. ScottOn 30 April 1991, there were 1,243 applications for review by a social fund inspector which had been outstanding for more than one month. Additional inspectors have been recruited.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for review by a social fund inspector were outstanding at the end of February, March and April.
§ Mr. ScottThe information requested is as follows:
Number February 1991 1,709 March 1991 1,923 April 1991 2,223 Additional inspectors have been recruited.