§ Dr. TwinnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the 1991–92 discretionary social fund budget, giving details of the allocations that will be made to each of the district offices.
§ Mr. ScottThe 1991–92 gross budget for the discretionary part of the social fund will be £227.7 million, comprising £160 million for loans and £67.7 million for community care grants. In accordance with the Department's published commitment to move to a formal cash limit on the discretionary part of the fund, agreement has been reached with the Treasury that, with effect from the start of the financial year, it will be subject to a formal cash limit of £100 million net. I have placed a list of all district office allocations in the Library.
§ Mr. SumbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many payments were made from the social fund in 1988–89 and 1989–90 analysed by type of payment.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1991, c. 124]: I regret that the answer given was incomplete. The full answer should have been: Payments were as follows:
thousands 1988–89 1989–90 Maternity payments 170 175 Funeral payments 40 45 Community care grants 155 230 Budget loans 505 580 Crisis loans 380 450 Cold weather payments 1 45 It should be noted that the figures for payments in 1988–89 given in the recent social security departmental report—Cm. 1514—were incorrect; the figures given above should be substituted. Arrangements have been made for a correction slip to be produced. This will be inserted in remaining HMSO stocks of the departmental report and sent to all known purchasers. Copies will also be sent to the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.