HC Deb 27 June 1988 vol 136 cc127-8W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local offices of his Department had spent on community care grants from the social fund, by the end of May(a) nothing, (b) up to 1 per cent. of their budget for 1988–89, (c) between 1 and 2 per cent., (d) between 2 and 4 per cent., (e) between 4 and 6 per cent., and (f) more than 6 per cent.

Mr. Portillo

Details of social fund budget allocations to local offices for community care grants in 1988–89 and the budget balances remaining at the end of May 1988 are in the Library.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many social fund inspectors have been appointed; at what cost to public funds; how many of them are engaged full-time as inspectors; how many reviews they have undertaken; and what other duties have been assigned to them.

Mr. Portillo

I am advised by the social fund commissioner that she has appointed 40 social fund inspectors, one of whom is engaged on a part-time basis. The cost to public funds is about £800,000 per annum. Social fund inspectors have so far received 53 cases for review and have completed 23. No other duties have been assigned to them.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what were the numbers and amounts of budgeting loans, crisis loans and community care grants made by social fund officers in each local office and in the whole of Great Britain in May 1988, analysed by client groups, within application purpose, within application type;

(2) how many applications for community care grants were refused by social fund officers at each local office in May 1988, analysed by reasons for refusal, broken down by application purpose within client group.

Mr. Portillo

This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the social fund budget forecasts for each local office for June 1988.

Mr. Portillo

Local offices do not have monthly budgets. Details of the annual budget allocations for every local office are in the Library. Local office managers draw up monthly profiles of how they expect to spend their budget throughout the year.

Such profiles are an internal management tool only, designed to help local managers operate the social fund efficiently. They do not represent rigid budget targets or limits.

I regret that the individual local office profiles are not available centrally.