HC Deb 22 June 1990 vol 174 cc730-1W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list any circulars and advice documents he has circulated on the subject of cautioning juvenile offenders during the last five years.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Within the last five years, as a result of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, all staff employed on fraud investigation duties have been issued with a copy of the code of practice for the treatment and questioning of persons. Additional instructions on dealing with young people are contained in the Department's fraud investigator's guide.

1988–89 1989–90
Number of awards Number of awards
Loans Grants Loans Grants
Pensioners 28,320 33,920 30,350 59,130
Lone parents (without disability premium) 278,390 36,600 380,160 58,390
Others with family premium1 140,280 18,240 171,690 25,100
Disabled2 65,190 22,920 45,330 38,440
Others3 369,280 40,740 403,120 48,890
Total 881,460 152,420 1,030,650 229,950

Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10.

1 Includes couples with children. It is not possible to identify separately this group.

2 Applicants receiving a disability premium. It is not possible to identify applicants who are sick but not receiving a disability premium.

3 Includes crisis loan payments to couples with children not in receipt of income support.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the proportion of pensioners, couples with children, lone parents, sick and disabled people and others on income support who received (i) community care grants and (ii) loans from the social fund in 1988–89 and 1989–90.

Number of awards expressed as a percentage of income support caseload for the relevant client group
1988–89 1989–90
Loans Grants Loans Grants
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Pensioners 1.7 2.1 1.8 3.6
Lone parents (without disability premium) 37.3 4.9 50.9 7.8
Others with family premium1 27.4 3.6 34.4 5.0
Disabled2 22.8 8.0 14.6 12.4
Others3 28.2 3.4 29.1 3.8
1 Includes couples with children. It is not possible to identify separately this group.
2 Applicants receiving a disability premium. It is not possible to identify applicants who are sick but not receiving a disability premium.
3 Includes crisis loan payments to couples with children not in receipt of income support.

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