§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of income support claimants are now repaying social fund loans; and what is the total outstanding loan debt.
§ Mr. ScottAt 31 January 1991, 10 per cent. of income support claimants were repaying social fund loans; the total debt outstanding was £135 million.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current level of repayment of social fund loans; and if he will remove the cash limit on local office loan budgets where repayment levels are high.
§ Mr. ScottFrom April 1990 to the end of January, £105 million was recovered from loan expenditure. We have no plans to remove the limits on local office loan budgets, but additional budget allocations are made where appropriate.