Social Fund

HC Deb 06 June 1991 vol 192 cc329-30W

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the gross and net budgets of the social fund for each of the local offices in Wales for

		Caseload (including backdated awards) as at end of month
	Number of family credit awards current at end of month1	Self-employed	Employees	Total
August 1990	281,414	48,140	276,500	324,640
September 1990	282,019	48,080	278,540	326,620
October 1990	280,744	47,860	278,600	326,460
November 1990	293,343	—	—	2324,000
December 1990	284,429	—	—	2317,000
January 1991	281,250	—	—	2315,000
February 1991	288,924	—	—	2322,000
March 1991	294,202	—	—	3—
April 1991	292,752	—	—	3—
May 1991	300,096	—	—	3—
1 A breakdown between employees and self-employed is not available.
2 Provisional total: no breakdown between employees and self-employed at this stage.
3 Meaningful figures not yet available because of claims not yet decided.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families with the main earner(a) employed and (b) self-employed, were receiving family credit of (a) under £10, (b) £10 to £19.99, (c) £20 to £29.99, (d) £30 to £39.99, (e) £40 to £49.99, (f) £50 to £59.99 and (g) £60 or more, at the latest date for which information is available.

Mr. Jack

At 31 October 1990, the latest date for which this information is available, the breakdown of the families receiving family credit was as follows:

Weekly amount of Family Credit	Main earner self-employed	Main earner employed
Under £10	3,120	47,920
£10 to £19.99	4,820	59,460
£20 to £29.99	5,820	53,700
£30 to £39.99	5,680	45,880
£40 to £49.99	8,760	35,960
£50 to £59.99	10,280	20,240
£60 or more	9,380	15,440

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for family credit have been refused since April 1988; and what proportion of new claims in each of the months April and May 1991 was unsuccessful.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to improve the level of service to family credit claimants.

each year since 1988–89, under the headings of (a) crisis loans, (b) budgeting loans and (c) community care grants, showing the change in real terms since 1988–89 in each case.

Mr. Scott

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the public information office.