§ Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the criteria for loans from the social fund.
§ Mr. ScottDraft directions and guidance for the award of loans were included in the draft "Social Fund Manual" which was issued to interested parties for comment on 25 March 1987. Careful consideration was given to the views expressed and revised directions and guidance were included in the version of the manual placed in the Library on 9 October, which will be published later this autumn.
§ Mr. Barronasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what allocation of money is to be made to the social fund.
§ Mr. ScottThe national budget for the discretionary part of the social fund in 1988–89, its first year of operation, will be £203 million. £60 million will be allocated for community care grants, £141 million for loans, and £2 million will be held back as a central contingency reserve.