§ Ms. Estelle MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people from the Birmingham, Yardley constituency, in the last two years for which figures are available, appealed against a Benefits Agency decision not to award a social fund grant; and how many appeals were upheld;
(2) how many people from the Birmingham, Yardley constituency have been refused social fund payments in the last two years for which figures are available.
§ 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 with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Ms. Estelle Morris, dated 12 November 1992:
999WAs Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Social Fund appeals and refusals in the Birmingham, Yardley constituency.Applicants who are not satisfied with the Social Fund Officer's decision can apply to have the decision reviewed; there is no right of appeal against Social Fund community care grant (CCG) decisions. Decisions are firstly reviewed within the local office and, if the applicant is still dissatisfied with the decision, by a Social Fund Inspector who is independent of the Department.The attached annex gives the number of requests for review against Social Fund CCG decisions and also the number of CCG decisions that were changed, firstly at District level and secondly, by the Social Fund Inspectors. Decisions changed at District level, if not changed wholly in the applicant's favour, may also have been changed by the Social Fund Inspector.Details are held by Benefits Agency District, the boundaries of which are not coterminous with Parliamentary constituencies. I have therefore provided figures for the Districts of Birmingham Chamberlain, Birmingham Heartlands and Birmingham South East, each of which deals with some part of your constituency.Figures for CCG refusals are given for the years 1990–91 and 1991–92. The information is collated according to the number of applications rather than the number of applicants.Figures on social fund refusals by district are in the Library.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.
Social Fund Community Care Grant Review—1990–91, 1991–92 Birmingham Chamberlain Birmingham Heartlands Birmingham South East 1990–91 Number of review applications 551 496 288 Revised in District 227 188 101 Revised by SF Inspector 33 31 18 1991–92 Number of review applications 997 1,103 490 Revised in District 340 273 139 Revised by SF Inspector 53 38 17