§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the independent research commissioned from the social security research unit of the University of York to examine whether the social fund is meeting its objectives will be available for publication in either completed or interim form prior to the establishment of the benefits agency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe research into the operation of the social fund by the social policy research unit is not expected to be completed until the end of December 1991.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what procedures exist for his Department to 285W monitor the local priority categories used for allocating grants from the social fund and changes which take place in those priorities.
§ Mr. ScottThere are no centrally imposed procedures for monitoring local priority categories, or changes which take place in those priorities.
This function is the responsibility of the relevant local manager who, as the appointed area social fund officer and budget holder, is required to issue guidance on matters specified by the Secretary of State. That guidance must take account of local factors in specifying priority needs for grants and loans and the levels of priority which may be met from the expenditure allocation for the local social fund officers for the relevant period. The area social fund officer is also required to monitor and review at least monthly the planned level of expenditure and the priority needs and levels for his locality and to revise them as
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Claimants in receipt of unemployment benefit, unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit/income support and supplementary benefit/income support only 1987 to 1990 (Figures are for November each year). Unemployment benefit Benefit Unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit/income support Supplementary benefit/income support only Table 1(a) 1987 Great Britain 548,772 126,609 1,407,222 South East 124,000 28,804 335,009 East Anglia 15,185 3,700 30,160 South West 39,757 9,127 76,010 West Midlands 51,953 12,215 164,632 East Midlands 38,478 7,938 80,837 Yorkshire and Humberside 56,558 13,633 141,867 North West 70,279 17,698 218,740 Northern 45,124 10,819 105,359 Wales 31,312 8,002 77,895 Scotland 76,126 14,673 176,713 Table 1(b) 1988 Great Britain 384,769 114,902 1,065,930 London East 27,040 9,406 102,854 London South 27,301 8,831 93,460 London West 22,224 5,548 46,168 South West 27,696 6,893 54,087 West Midlands 34,987 10,334 117,850 East Midlands 35,853 9,180 79,457 Yorkshire and Humberside 42,300 12,135 108,953 North West 56,629 17,849 180,284 Northern 31,268 9,661 77,918 Wales 24,547 7,988 59,346 Scotland 54,924 17,077 145,553 Table 1(c) 1989 Great Britain 210,325 78,457 918,924 London East 15,974 6,832 83,952 London South 16,074 6,624 77,078 London West 12,882 4,346 36,771 South West 14,294 4,875 45,814 West Midlands 18,465 6,801 95,783 East Midlands 20,722 6,997 67,333 Yorkshire and Humberside 23,018 8,225 97,727 North West 30,389 11,485 158,546 Northern 15,771 5,879 71,903 Wales 12,512 5,017 50,383 Scotland 30,224 11,376 133,634 necessary. It follows that this guidance can vary from one local area to another, thus ensuring that the highest priority needs in a community are met.