HC Deb 18 May 1988 vol 133 cc493-4W
Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the effect on the income to charitable and voluntary organisations, which assist the homeless, of benefit payments being paid in arrears rather than in advance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

The national figures on the benefit income are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, we are considering representations from a small number of such organisations on the effects of these new arrangements.

Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider making special arrangements to monitor the level of payments in respect of homeless people made directly from his Department to charitable and voluntary organisations assisting the homeless and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

Information on direct payments to landlords is collected centrally, but it is not possible to identify separately those made to voluntary organisations and charities.

Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what level of payments were made by his Department's local office at Leicester, Norton street, in respect of homeless people to the Leicester night shelter project in April 1987 and in April 1988.

The latest case load counts, based on a 100 per cent, count of all cases in action, and the corresponding figures for previous years are as follows:

Mr. Portillo

For the period 30 March 1987 to 26 April 1987, £7,316.55 was paid in respect of accommodation charges for people staying in the Leicester night shelter. For the period 28 March 1988 to 26 April 1988, £5,120.70 was paid directly to the night shelter in respect of accommodation charges.

Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will consider extending the list of priority groups included within the social fund guidance to include all homeless people, with a view to enabling homeless claimants to be considered for crisis loans to pay charges for accommodation in advance of moving into such accommodation; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will consider making special arrangements for the payment of benefit to homeless people and people staying in hostels and board and lodging accommodation generally to enable them to receive payment in advance, rather than in arrears as prescribed in the new regulations introduced on 11 April; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

Applicants for social fund crisis loans are not categorised on the basis of priority groups. Crisis loans may be considered for rent in advance to a private landlord or to secure board and lodging accommodation in the light of the directions and guidance covered in the social fund manual. We have no plans to make payments of income support in advance to these groups.

Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider extending the practice of making payments in respect of hotel and board and lodging accommodation by means of vouchers payable directly to the providers of such accommodation, rather than to claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

Payments to a third party, including payments made by voucher, may be made if this is in the claimant's best interest, for example where there is evidence that he is unable to manage his finances. There are no plans to extend these arrangements in respect of other claimants.