§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the budgetary allocation in respect of the social fund to the Belfast, South500W and Down district section of the Social Security Agency to meet underfunding in this area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 3 December 1992:
Your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for an increase in the budget allocation in respect of Social Fund for the Belfast South and Down District of the Social Security Agency has been passed to me for reply as I am responsible for the Social Security Agency.
I should explain that Social Fund budget allocations are made at the beginning of the financial year in accordance with a formula which is applied to all Social Security Offices. While the position is monitored throughout the year additional allocations are normally only made when there has been a higher than expected level of loan recoveries or an unforseen demand on the Social Fund, for example, as a result of flooding or a bomb explosion.
The procedure has already led to two additional allocations to the Belfast South and Down District this year, £50,630 in October and £34,000 in November. As a result the District's total allocation has increased to £2,219,689, (£1,452,114 for Crisis and Budget Loans and £767,575 for Community Care Grants). At present it is not planned to make any further allocations but the situation will be kept under review.
I hope this explanation is helpful but I shall write to you again if the position changes. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report and copies will be placed in the Library.