§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the future format of the social fund manual.
§ Mr. ScottThe revised social fund manual has been published today. In the new manual, the Secretary of State's directions and guidance to social fund officers have been separated from the purely procedural and356W administrative matters. The opportunity has also been taken to revise the style of English used, to make it simpler and easier to understand.
Three changes of substance have been made in the course of the revision. Social fund direction 4 has been revised to clarify the fact that people can apply for community care grants for the care of prisoners on home leave. Direction 16 has been revised so that full-time students will be eligible for crisis loans throughout the year only to alleviate the consequences of a disaster. This is in line with the Government policy to fund students through the educational maintenance system rather than through social security benefits. Finally, the guidance on suggested amounts to award for community care grants has been deleted.
Copies of the revised social fund manual, comprising the social fund officer's guide, the social fund administration guide, the funeral and maternity payments guide and the cold weather payments booklet, have been placed in both Libraries today. The new manual is effective from 16 December 1991.