§ 13. Ms. QuinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes his Department is considering to the operation of the social fund.
§ 26. Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the operation of the social fund.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish a detailed response to the recent report from York university social policy research unit on the social fund; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LilleyI am carefully examining the various reports about the social fund. No decisions have been made about any changes in the future operation of the fund. As. I told the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) earlier, I am announcing today increases in social fund budgets for every district.
§ 18. Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consideration he has given to the introduction of an appeals procedure for those refused help from the social fund; and what was his conclusion.
§ Mr. ScottSocial fund maternity, funeral and cold weather payments already have an appeal procedure. For discretionary social fund payments, I believe that the existing specialised review procedure provides an effective and independent means of redress.
I am pleased to say that both the Social Security Advisory Committee and independent research from the Policy Studies Institute support my view.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact on charitable organisations of the operation of the social fund; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottEvidence from the recent report by the university of York's social policy research unit suggests that few people approach charities as an alternative to the social fund.
In many other European Community countries the schemes for one-off payments are organised at a regional or local level, and greater emphasis is often placed on help from charities and voluntary organisations.