§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to review the operation of the social fund; and what proposals he has to encourage people to claim benefit to which they are entitled.
§ Mr. ScottThere is continuous review of the operation of the social fund as part of the constant processes of monitoring and policy evaluation. There is a range of booklets, leaflets and posters giving prospective applicants to the social fund details of both the regulated and discretionary payments available under the scheme.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the social fund budget profiles separately for grants and loans for each of the Bradford local offices of his Department and the Keighley office for each month of the financial year 1988–89; and what is expenditure so far.
§ Mr. ScottThe profiles set for these offices at the beginning of the financial year were: 517W
Loans Grants Per cent. £ Per cent. £ Bradford East April 2.23 9,800 2.23 4,150 May 8.88 39,024 8.88 16,529 June 8.88 39,024 8.88 16,529 July 8.88 39,024 8.88 16,529 August 8.88 39,024 8.88 16,529 September 8.56 37,618 8.56 15,933 October 9.47 41,616 9.47 17,626 November 9.49 41,705 9.49 17,664 December 8.27 36,343 8.27 15,393 January 7.87 34,585 7.87 14,649 February 9.19 40,387 9.19 17,106 March 9.40 41,309 9.40 17,496 Bradford West April 2.23 9,982 2.23 4,248 May 8.88 39,731 8.88 16,906 June 8.88 39,731 8.88 16,906 July 8.88 39,731 8.88 16,906 August 8.88 39,731 8.88 16,906 September 8.56 38,299 8.56 16,296 October 9.47 42,371 9.47 18,029 November 9.49 42,460 9.49 18,067 December 8.27 37,002 8.27 15,744 January 7.87 35,212 7.87 14,983 February 9.19 41,118 9.19 17,496 March 9.40 42,058 9.40 17,896 Bradford South April 2.23 8,848 2.23 3,754 May 8.88 35,233 8.88 14,948 June 8.88 35,233 8.88 14,948 July 8.88 35,233 8.88 14,948 August 8.88 35,233 8.88 14,948 September 8.56 33,963 8.56 14,409 October 9.47 37,574 9.47 15,941 November 9.49 37,653 9.49 15,974 December 8.27 32,813 8.27 13,921 January 7.87 31,225 7.87 13,248 February 9.19 36,463 9.19 15,469 March 9.40 37,296 9.40 15,823 Keighley April 2.23 4,197 2.23 1,825 May 8.88 16,713 8.88 7,268 June 8.88 16,713 8.88 7,268 July 8.88 16,713 8.88 7,268 August 8.88 16,713 8.88 7,268 September 8.56 16,111 8.56 7,006 October 9.47 17,823 9.47 7,751 November 9.49 17,861 9.49 7,767 December 8.27 15,565 8.27 6,769 January 7.87 14,812 7.87 6,441 February 9.19 17,296 9.19 7,522 March 9.40 17,692 9.40 7,694 Profiles are only a management guide to anticipated expenditure and are adjusted monthly in the light of actual expenditure.
Details of actual expenditure to date have been placed in the Library.
There have been technical problems with the social fund microcomputers. These are being corrected as quickly as possible. As a result these figures may be subject to revision.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals to the social fund inspectorate were received at the social security office at Erdington in Birmingham on Friday 22 July; and when the papers for these appeals were sent to the social fund inspectorate.
518W
§ Mr. ScottOne application for a review by the social fund inspectorate was received in Erdington social security office on 22 July and the papers were forwarded on 27 July.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social fund officers are employed at the social security office at Erdington in Birmingham; what training has been given to these social fund officers; and what training will be given to them in future.
§ Mr. ScottThere are seven social fund officers currently employed at the Erdington office. Details of the training given to social fund officers was provided in the reply to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) on 15 December 1987, at columns483–84. All seven officers have completed their training. The ongoing training needs of social fund officers are the subject of continual review.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for crisis loans were rejected by the social fund officers at the social security office at Erdington in Birmingham in April, May and June.