§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will remove beds and cookers from the requirements covering budgeting loans under the new social fund regulations; and if he will instead provide grants for those items.
§ Mr. ScottThe social fund manual, a copy of which is in the Library, sets out the directions and guidance for social fund officers in relation to budgeting and crisis loans and community care grants; these payments are not governed by regulations. Grants may be considered for beds and cookers where the circumstances of the case satisfy the major community care criteria of helping people in priority groups to move into, or stay in, the community. For others, we believe loans for items such as beds and cookers are right in principle. Loan provide greater equity between income support beneficiaries and others on low incomes, who have to budget for major items of expenditure for themselves; and make better use the resources available.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to monitor the recruitment, training and performance of social fund officers to ensure that the qualifications, salary and job support for these posts is commensurate with the degree of responsibility and stress inherent in the job.
§ Mr. ScottGuidance has been issued to local office managers about the selection of social fund staff from existing DHSS officers.
There will be a comprehensive training programme for staff selected to become social fund officers which is designed to enable them to carry out the full range of their duties.
It is intended to monitor the quality of decision making following the introduction of phase 2 of the social fund, but the detailed arrangements for this have yet to be finalised.