Social Fund (Hansard, 18 October 1989)

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in(a) Glasgow and (b) the Provan constituency were refused loans by officers of the social fund on the grounds that the applicants lacked sufficient income to repay such loans.

§ Mr. Scott
For the 13 offices in metropolitan Glasgow, during the five-month period ending 30 September 1989, 727 applications for budgeting loans and 100 applications for crisis loans were refused on the grounds of the applicant being unable to repay. This is equivalent to 2.2 per cent. and 0.7 per cent. respectively of the number of applications processed.
In the Provan local office, there were 43 such refusals for budgeting loans and one for a crisis loan. This is equivalent to 1.1 per cent. and 0.1 per cent. respectively of the number of applications processed.

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in the constituency of Glasgow, Provan have applied for(a) grants and (b) loans from the social fund since its inception.

§ Mr. Scott
Information about the number of people who make applications to the social fund is not collected.
Information about the numbers of applications processed is placed in the library.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund applications remained unprocessed in Newham Department of Social Security offices at the end of financial year 1988–89; how many are currently awaiting determination; and what was the underspend at each office in 1988–89.

§ Mr. Scott
The information requested is shown in the table. For the financial year to date, each of the offices is on target to make full use of its budget allocations.

Plaistow ILO:

Loans allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–13.3 per cent.

Grants allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–38.8 per cent.

Applications unprocessed at 31 March 1989 Applications unprocessed at 30 September 1989

Budgeting loans 69 68

Crisis loans 5 13

Community Care Grants 26 5

Woodgrange Park ILO:

Loans allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–18.6 per cent.

Grants allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–32.8 per cent.

Applications unprocessed at 31 March 1989 Applications unprocessed at 30 September 1989

Budgeting loans 65 87

Crisis loans 0 2

Community Care Grants 21 15

Canning Town ILO:

Loans allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–8.6 per cent.

Grants allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–38.6 per cent.

Applications unprocessed at 31 March 1989 Applications unprocessed at 30 September 1989

Budgeting loans 75 60

Crisis loans 8 3

Community Care Grants 0 15

Plaistow ILO:
Loans allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–13.3 per cent.
Grants allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–38.8 per cent.
	Applications unprocessed at 31 March 1989	Applications unprocessed at 30 September 1989
Budgeting loans	69	68
Crisis loans	5	13
Community Care Grants	26	5

Woodgrange Park ILO:
Loans allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–18.6 per cent.
Grants allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–32.8 per cent.
	Applications unprocessed at 31 March 1989	Applications unprocessed at 30 September 1989
Budgeting loans	65	87
Crisis loans	0	2
Community Care Grants	21	15

Canning Town ILO:
Loans allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–8.6 per cent.
Grants allocation remaining at 31 March 1989–38.6 per cent.
	Applications unprocessed at 31 March 1989	Applications unprocessed at 30 September 1989
Budgeting loans	75	60
Crisis loans	8	3
Community Care Grants	0	15