HC Deb 15 January 1993 vol 216 c836W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures for the numbers of persons aged 16 and 17 years by county or region who received hardship benefit(a) in the financial year 1991–92 and (b) in the period April to October 1992.

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the precise from requested. The table gives details of the number of claims for income support under the severe hardship provision by old DSS regions. Some people will have made more than one claim.

DSS Region 1991–92 April-October 1992
Scotland 12,754 11,493
North Eastern 9,340 7,812
North Western 6,835 7,235
Midlands 6,926 6,792
Wales and South West 6,846 6,305
London North 5,805 5,794
London South 6,303 5,763

Source: Severe Hardship Claims Unit database.

Mr. Ashdown

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of the applications made in 1992 by(a) 16 and 17-year-olds and (b) 18 to 21-year-olds for (i) social fund loans and (ii) community care grants were made by females;

(2) how many applications were made in 1992 by 18 to 21-year-olds for (a) social fund loans and (b) community care grants; how many of these applications were refused; and on what grounds;

(3) how many applications were made in 1992 by 16 and l7-year-olds for (a) social fund loans and (b) community care grants; how many of these applications were refused; and on what grounds.

Mr. Scott

Information is not collected centrally on social fund applications by people from these age groups. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.