§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost to local government of refusal of social fund applications on housing revenue accounts. [32227]
293W
§ Mr. Roger EvansNone.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the running costs of the social fund as a proportion of annual net payments for each of the last three years. [32228]
§ Mr. EvansSocial fund administration costs are met separately from expenditure from the regulated and discretionary fund. In 1992–93, the social fund cost £208 million to administer and £270 million in 1993–94. Details of the administration costs for 1994–95 are not yet available and will be published in the next departmental report.
The ratio of social fund administration costs to net payments from the discretionary and regulated fund was 0.98 in 1992–93 and 1.18 in 1993–94. It is more valid to relate administrative expenditure and gross expenditure, including recoveries, and on the basis the ratio was 0.35 in 1992–93 and 0.41 in 1993–94.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total net cost of the social fund for each of the last three years and the total cost of the single payment system for the last three years of its operation. [32229]
§ Mr. EvansThe total net cost of the regulated and discretionary social fund was £212 million in 1992–93; £229 million in 1993–94 and £217 million in 1994–95.
The total cost of single payments was £308 million in 1985–96; £370 million on 1986–87 and £198 million in 1987–88
The figures quoted are given in cash prices for the relevant years.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for assistance from the social fund at Doncaster and Mexborough benefit offices were made in the year 1994–95; how many were accepted; how many were refused; and what was the figures for the previous year. [31093]
§ Mr. EvansThe administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Ian Magree, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about claims to the Social Fund in the Doncaster and Mexborough benefit offices for 1993–94 and 1994–95.
With the creation of the Benefits Agency in April 1991, offices were grouped into Districts. Information has therefore been supplied for the Doncaster and the Rother and Dearne Districts Mexborough Branch Office is one office within the Rother and Dearne District and figures for it cannot be given separately.
Information regarding Funeral Payment (FP) and Maternity Payment (MP) refusals is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. This is because the precise data could only be gathered by a special scan of the Social Fund Computer System. However, I have provided estimated figures for your information.
Information for the Doncaster District is provided at Annex A and for Rother and Dearne at Annex B.
I hope you find this reply helpful. 294W
Annex A: Number of applications, awards and refusals, Doncaster district: 1993–94 and 1994–95 Application type Applications Awards Refusals 1993–94 Budgeting loan 9,695 5,809 3,925 Community care grant 6,767 1,511 5,334 Crisis loan 4,948 3,810 964 Funeral payment 597 404 193 Maternity payment 1,605 1,386 219 1994–95 Budgeting loan 9,302 5,828 3,909 Community care grant 7,156 1,784 5,547 Crisis loan 5,404 4,144 1,129 Funeral payment 520 348 172 Maternity payment 1,594 1,350 244 The refusal figures for FP and MP have been approximated by deducting awards from applications. No account has been taken of withdrawn applications.
Annex B: Number of applications, awards and refusals, Rother and Dearne district 1993–94 and 1994–95 Application type Applications Awards Refusals 1993–94 Budgeting loan 11,867 6,847 4,487 Community care grant 9,237 3,167 6,015 Crisis loan 3,969 2,902 959 Funeral payment 847 595 252 Maternity payment 2,083 1,823 260 1994–95 Budgeting loan 11,394 7,378 4,592 Community care grant 9,144 3,153 6,211 Crisis loan 4,012 2,839 1,027 Funeral payment 779 502 277 Maternity payment 2,121 1,762 359 The refusal figures for FP and MP have been approximated by deducting awards from applications. No account has been taken of withdrawn applications.