§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual administrative cost of the social fund; and how many complaints there have been from customers and their representatives in each region in relation to their applications in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration cost of the social fund in 1992–93, the most recent year for which figures are available, was £208 million. This amount includes expenditure on information technology development and capital costs of £17 million, including the investment costs of introducing the improved social fund computer system.
Information concerning complaints about the social fund is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. An applicant for a discretionary payment who is dissatisfied with the decision has the right to have the application reconsidered by applying for a review. Information on the review process and details of the number of social fund review applications are given in the Secretary of State's annual report on the social fund for 1993–94. A copy for the report is in the Library.