§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that women who take refuge from violence inflicted by a spouse or partner, who is in receipt of income support, remain eligible for social fund loans or grants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloSocial fund crisis or budgeting loans or community care grants may be available to enable people to move to new accommodation following a breakdown in a relationship. Loans and grants may also be available for clothing where the applicant is unable to recover clothing from the former home because of the risk of violence or where clothing has been damaged as a result of the breakdown in the relationship. Community care grants may be awarded only to people receiving income support, and budgeting loans to people who themselves or whose partners have been in receipt of income support for 26 weeks; but crisis loans may be awarded to people without resources whether on income support or not.