§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to increase the level of the Social Fund; and if he will make a statement. [127838]
§ Angela EagleThe gross discretionary Social Fund budget increases each year, mainly through the recycling of loan repayments. Since the fund started, almost 17 million loans worth over £3 billion have been made for a net cost of £492 million.
Between 1997–98 and 2000–01 the gross budget has increased by over £128 million or 27 per cent. The size and allocation of the gross budget for 2001–02 will be announced in late March.
Information on expenditure is contained in the Secretary of State's Annual Reports on the Social Fund, copies of which are available in the House Library.
Details of the discretionary Social Fund budget for 2000–01 are available in the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 339W.