HC Deb 17 June 1992 vol 209 cc596-8W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure of providing(a) maternity payments, (b) funeral expenses and (c) cold weather payments for the past three years expressed (i) in cash terms, (ii) in cash terms at 1990–91 prices and (iii) as a percentage of total social security expenditure; and if he will provide a breakdown by (1) region and (2) local DSS office.

Mr. Scott

Not all the information requested is readily available and it could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available will he placed in the Library shortly.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps his Department is taking to draw the social fund to the attention of those it has identified as likely to be applicants; and what is the total expenditure involved.

Mr. Scott

Information about the Fund is included in general guides to social security published by the Department. There are also two specific leaflets on the fund, numbered SFL2 and SB16. These leaflets have been revised and clarified recently. It is not possible to isolate expenditure on the social fund from other departmental publicity spending.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans his Department has to alter the eligibility criteria used in making discretionary awards under the social fund; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 8 June at columns 6-8.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what are(a) the administrative costs, (b) benefit expenditure and (c) administrative costs as a proportion of expenditure, for (i) the social fund, (ii) income support and (iii) income support and social fund combined, for each of the social fund's operation;

(2) what was the total expenditure of administering the social fund expressed (a) in cash terms, (b) at 1990–91 prices and (c) as a percentage of gross social fund expenditure; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office;

(3) what is the total expenditure of the social fund expressed as a percentage of (a) total social security expenditure and (b) total running costs for each year of its operation.

Mr. Scott

Information on social security expenditure and administration costs for 1988–89 to 1990–91 is in the Library. Details of social fund administration costs for 1991–92 are not yet available. Information about administrative costs by region or DSS local office is not available.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications initially rejected by(a) social fund officers and (b) social fund inspectors were the subject of awards following review for each year of its operation; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office.

Mr. Scott

The information requested about social fund officers' decisions is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Regarding social fund inspectors' decisions, I am informed by the social fund commissioner that information by each local office is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table summarises the data collected by DSS region.

Region 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1 1991–92
London North — 0 10 25
London South — 1 8 9
Midlands — 3 3 14
North East — 3 17 26
North West — 1 11 26
Scotland — 0 9 47
Wales and South West — 1 8 21
1 Data for 1991–92 is provisional.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total budget for(a) the social fund, (b) budgeting loans, (c) crisis loans and (d) community care grants and the percentage of each budget which was actually spent for each year of its operation; and if he will provide a breakdown by (i) region and (ii) local DSS office.

Mr. Scott

Information on social fund allocations and expenditure is in the Library. The allocations for loans are not subdivided for budgeting and crisis loans.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that social fund applicants and potential applicants are made aware of the role of the social fund inspectors;

(2) what is the estimated cost and time scale for implementing any planned improvements to the computer system which are deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the social fund and the production of reliable performance data;

(3) what is the level of departmental manpower absorbed by the social fund expressed (a) in numbers and (b) as a percentage of total departmental manpower for each year of its operation.

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.