§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how social fund budgets are adapted to meet increased demands arising from increased unemployment; and what account is taken of regional trends in unemployment in setting the budgets.
§ Mr. ScottThe trend in unemployment is one of the factors taken into account during our routine reviews of the amounts allocated to the national and district social fund budgets. These reviews have resulted in total increases of £49.6 million to the discretionary budget in 1991–92.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the remaining social fund budget of the Wakefield district Benefits Agency office.
§ Mr. ScottThe 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.
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§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of successful claims for the last three years for which figures were available for(a) social fund loans and (b) social fund grants in (i) Wakefield, (ii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iii) the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action is taken to assist benefit agency offices when increased claims exceed social fund budgets during any financial year.
§ Mr. ScottThe 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.