HC Deb 20 July 1989 vol 157 cc267-8W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to create a right of appeal against refusals of social fund applications to independent social security appeal tribunals; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No. Arrangements for review of decisions by social fund officers, first by a senior manager in the social security local office and, secondly, if the applicant remains dissatisfied, by an independent social fund inspector, are already provided for in social security legislation. These arrangements are more in keeping with the discretion-based social fund scheme than the appeal system which applies to other social security benefits where entitlement depends upon a person satisfying specific conditions or rules set out in regulations.

Mr. Favell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he proposes to publish his annual report on the social fund.

Mr. Moore

The report has been published today. It contains detailed information about the first year's operation of the social fund. I am happy to report that, despite the early fears expressed regarding the operation of the scheme, the figures speak for themselves; over 1 million people have received help from the fund, which has operated flexibly and in a way not previously possible under the old single payments scheme.

Over half a million people on income support have received interest-free budgeting loans averaging £214, nearly 400,000 have received interest-free crisis loans averaging £45, an 153,000 people in vulnerable groups or families under stress have been helped with non-repayable community care grants averaging £271. There have been many examples of imaginative use of discretion by social fund officers which has enabled them to direct help to where it was most needed.

The staff and management of my Department accepted the new challenge which the social fund presented. It is evident that those involved have worked hard to master the very different principles of this new scheme. It is a significant achievement by all concerned, all the more so when set against a background of hostility and scepticism from some quarters. And we are now seeing the tremendous experience gained in the first year being put to good use in the second.

Copies are available in the Library.