HC Deb 26 July 1989 vol 157 cc767-8W
Mr. Burt

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the annual report of the social fund commissioner.

Mr. Newton

I am pleased to announce that I have today published the social fund commissioner's annual report for 1988–89. I have placed copies in the Library.

The report describes, as required by statute, the standards of review achieved by social fund inspectors. I am grateful to the commissioner for this, for the advice and assistance she has given the social fund inspectors in undertaking their important role of independent review of social fund officers' decisions, and for setting up the organisation in this first and crucial year.

Mr. Allen Adams

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications were made for grants from the social fund in the year 1988–89 in the Paisley, North constituency.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The Paisley, North constituency is served by the Department's office at Paisley.

Between 11 April 1988 and 31 March 1989, 1,308 applications for community care grants from the social fund were made to the Paisley office.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) Greenock and (b) Port Glasgow have been refused loans by social fund officers for the period April 1988 to the end of June 1989 on the basis that they had insufficient income to repay these loans.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Information is not collected on the number of people refused loans or grants. The figures collected are based on applications. Between April 1988 and the end of June 1989, on 112 occasions in the Greenock area, and on 87 occasions in the Port Glasgow area, the social fund officer refused a loan application giving as a reason the applicant's inability to repay.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what independent research into the social fund he has commissioned.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 24 May 1989 at columns544–45.