§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, when he intends to publish his annual report on the social fund and the social fund commissioner's annual report; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's annual report for 1993–94 (CM 2598) has been published and laid before Parliament today. The report records that gross expenditure in 1993–94 was £442 million, the highest level of expenditure since the fund was established in 1988. This includes 1.8 million non-repayable grants and interest free loans worth £344 million; and funeral, maternity and cold weather payments worth £98 million. The gross budget allocated to the 233W discretionary part of the fund was £346 million, representing an increase of £29 million—nearly 10 per cent—on 1992–93.
In 1994–95 we have built on the substantial increases of earlier years and the gross discretionary budget now stands at £353 million. Since the social fund's inception nearly 9 million discretionary grants and interest-free loans worth almost £1£6 billion have been made to people on low incomes. Cold weather payments will increase from £6 to £7 from 1 November 1994 and further increase to £7£50 a year later. These increases will enhance safeguards for the most vulnerable in the community such as elderly and disabled people and those with very young children.
The social fund commissioner's annual report has also been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.