§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the grants funded by his Department for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply; and if he will make a statement as to(a) the total of such funding in the last financial year, (b) the total number of awards and (c) their administrative costs. [82197]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownOur objectives are to fight poverty, create opportunity for all and help people become self sufficient and independent. Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service administer adiverse range of grant schemes, usually linked to specific life events such as maternity or bereavement, to which individual members of the public can apply for help. Grants are also available to help people lead independent lives in the community.
In addition the Department works in partnership with a number of grant aided organisations. However we do not administer any grant schemes which are open to application by outside organisations.
Information on administration costs is currently not available in the format requested. The Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure 939W by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs) as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.
Information relating to the principal grant schemes administered by the Department in 2001–02 is in the table.
2001–02 Expenditure (£ million) Number of awards Sure Start Maternity Grant1 61.2 201,000 Funeral payments 1 38.4 42,000 Community Care Grants 1 102.6 233,000 Job Grant2 5.3 530,000 New Deal 50 Plus Training Grant3 0.885 2,100 Access to work 2 40.9 13.000 1Social Fund Annual Report 2002 2Jobcentre Plus computer system 3ND 50 plus evaluation data base. Notes:
(i) Expenditure rounded to nearest thousand
(ii) Number of awards rounded to nearest thousand.