HC Deb 29 July 1988 vol 138 cc821-2W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what information he has on the take-up of loans and grants from the social fund; what were the projected take-up levels for the period from the introduction of the social fund to the present time; what has been the actual take-up shown by the latest available data; and if he will make a statement;

(2) how much he anticipated would be allocated by officers of his Department by way of community care grants to date; how much has been allocated; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

As my hon. Friend announced in his reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 6 May, at column656, monthly information on the operation of the social fund in individual local offices, including figures for both applications and awards, is available in the Library. The national model profile of expected expenditure was contained in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Derby, South on 11 July, at column 61. This was based on the established pattern of seasonal variation in expenditure for single payments. Provisional figures show that in the period up to the end of June, £17 million was awarded for loans (60 per cent, of expected expenditure) and £4 million was awarded for community care grants (29 per cent, of expected expenditure).

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the total number of(a) loans and (b) grants made under the social fund for April, May and June of this current year for each London social security office; and what are the projected payments for the financial year 1988–89.

Mr. Scott

Information on the operation of the social fund and on allocations for 1988–89 is in the Library.