§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in 1991–92, how many social fund applicants made(a) only one application to the fund. (b) two applications, (c) three applications, (d) four applications, (e) five applications and (f) six or more applications; and if he will provide a breakdown of these data by client groups.
§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the total number of people refused help from the social fund on the basis of their inability to repay social fund loans for each of the years 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what proportion of social fund loans refusals this represents for each year;
(2) if he will publish the social fund loans and grants allocations to individual districts for the year 1992–93.
§ Mr. ScottThe information requested is contained in the Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund. social fund statistics monthly reports and the allocations lists, copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of social fund award expenditure in(a) 1988–89, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1990–91 and (d) 1991–92 has now been written off as unrecoverable.
§ Mr. ScottThe information is in the table.
503W
Percentage of expenditure for which recovery action has been abandoned Per cent. 1988–89 0.6 1989–90 0.90 1990–91 1.20 1991–92 1.00
§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will take steps to ensure that no social fund applicants are refused help as a result of the failure of the computerised allocation system which led to allocations being made to a number of districts which had later to be reduced.
§ Mr. ScottWe have acted swiftly and effectively to correct allocations in a way which minimises disruption. No district has received less than it should have done following these revised allocations.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will now publish the York university social and public research unit report on the social fund which he received several weeks ago.
§ Mr. ScottI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 25 June at column308.