HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc100-1W
28. Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to review the social fund provision.

Mr. Scott

The level of social fund provision is kept under constant review. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 12 November, the gross budget for social fund discretionary payments for 1993–94 will be around £340 million. That is a 50 per cent. increase in two years—a clear indication of our commitment to ensuring that adequate help is provided. As far as this year is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms. Quin), earlier today.

Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was, for each social security office in the United Kingdom, the total amount of money applied for in cases in the current financial year where an application for a social fund loan met the criteria but the loan was refused because of budgetary constraints;

(2) what was, for each social security office in the United Kingdom, the total amount of money applied for in cases during the current financial year where an application for a community care grant met the criteria but the grant was refused because of budgetary constraints.

Mr. Scott

Information on the amount of money in cases where an application was refused on grounds of priority is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was, for each social security office in the United Kingdom, the amount of money allocated to the social fund for(a) loans and (b) grants for the current financial year and the amount so far unspent in each category at the latest available date.

Mr. Scott

Details of social fund allocations for the current financial year and outstanding allocations at the latest available date, by Benefit Agency district are in the Library.