§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many loans were given from the social fund in each of the last three years to young people under the age of 21 years living in the Greater London area to help pay a deposit to secure accommodation.
§ 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 a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 11 January 1993:
As 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 Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about loans from the Social Fund to help pay a deposit to secure accommodation.Payments for deposits to secure accommodation are excluded from the Social Fund by the Secretary of State's Direction. However, loans for the payment of rent in advance are available from the Social Fund to assist people moving into accommodation. In the financial year 1990–91, 1,822 such awards were made in the Greater London area totalling £363,366. In 1991–92, 1,854 awards were made to the value of £365,752. The corresponding figures for 1989–90 are not held but you may wish to note that 12,833 awards totalling £1.8 million were made nationally during this year. No information is available as to the age of the applicants to whom awards were made.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. A copy is also being placed in the Library.