HC Deb 20 April 1989 vol 151 cc270-1W
Mr. Eastham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many referrals have been made to the social fund inspectors; of these, how many have been referred back to Department of Social Security local offices for reconsideration; how many of the decisions referred back to the local office have been altered and if he will also split the figures issued(a) between community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans and (b) and by region.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I am advised by the social fund commissioner that between 11 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 social fund inspectors received 2,954 applications for review. A total of 1,109 cases have been referred back to social fund officers for determination. The regional details are as follows:

Table 1—Applications for review
Budgeting loans Crisis loans Community care grants Totals
London North 53 20 145 218
London South 43 12 51 106
Midlands 139 38 158 335
North Eastern 471 26 223 720
North Western 412 16 131 559
Scotland 529 29 232 790
Wales and South Western 122 21 83 226
TOTALS 1,769 162 1,023 2,954

Table 2—Applications referred back to the SFO for determination
Budgeting loans Crisis loans Community care grants Totals
London North 21 5 75 101
London South 17 4 16 37
Midlands 58 16 56 130
North Eastern 183 5 90 278
North Western 185 1 54 240
Scotland 164 9 63 236
Wales and South Western 46 5 36 87
TOTALS 674 45 390 1,109

Table 3—Applications redetermined in the applicant's favour
Budgeting loans Crisis loans Community care grants Totals Decisions not completed
London North 5 2 35 42 22
London South 5 0 4 9 7
Midlands 24 3 29 56 18
North Eastern 82 1 38 121 15
North Western 68 0 19 87 34
Scotland 77 5 36 118 18
Wales and South Western 17 2 18 37 8
TOTALS 278 13 179 470 122