§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 November, to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes),Official Report, column 747, how many of those refused benefits under the habitual residence test have received crisis loans.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, (1) if he will list by county in Wales(a) how many applications have been made to the social fund for a payment for rent in advance and (b) how many of these applications were successful for each year since the social fund came into operation;
(2) how many (a) grants and (b) loans have been awarded with respect to applications made to the social fund for a payment for rent in advance in each county in Wales for each year since the social fund came into operation.
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§ Mr. Roger EvansThe 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.
Letter from Michael Richard to Mr. Ron Davies, dated 22 February 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions requesting information on the number of applications made and grants and loans awarded in respect of rent in advance for each county in Wales.Information is not available in the format requested. Statistics are not collated in respect of the number of loan or grant applications made for specific purpose. However, information is available relating to the number of awards which have been made. The Secretary of State's directions do not allow a Community Care Grant to be made for rent in advance and, therefore, the information supplied relates only to Budgeting Loans.The information that is available does not relate to counties. Benefits Agency boundaries do not correspond with county boundaries and I have therefore provided information relating to the Benefits Agency's offices in Wales. Data for the financial years 1988/89 and 1989/90 is not available at local office level. However, I have given information at local office level for 1990/91 at Annex A. With the advent of the Benefits Agency in April 1991, local offices were grouped into Districts and at Annex B the information has been provided from 1991/92 at District level.I hope you find this reply helpful.284W
Annex A: Number of awards made for rent in advance by local offices in Wales 1990–91 Local Office Number of awards Aberdare 22 Aberystwyth 1 Ammnanford 4 Anglesey 1 Bargoed 13 Barry 20 Blackwood 8 Bridgend 24 Caernafon 18 Caerphilly 23 Cardiff Central 5 Cardiff West 3 Carmarthen 18 Colwyn Bay 8 Cwbran 9 Deeside 28 Ebbw Vale 9 Haverfordest 9 Llanelli 5 Merthyr Tydfil 4 Morriston 9 Neath 2 Newport Gwent 27 Newtown 43 Pembroke Dock 5 Pontypridd 3 Port Talbot 19 Porthmadog 20 Rhyl 1 Swansea 28 Tonypandy 6 Wrexham 29
Number of awards for rent in advance by Agency District in Wales from 1991–92 to 1993–94 District Number of Awards 1991–92 Cynon, Merthyr, Rhymney Valley 34 Gwyneddigion 47 Mid Wales and Maelor 116 North Gwent and Brecon 33 North Wales Coast 49 Ogwr Afan Nedd 13 South Glamorgan 37 South Gwent and Islwyn 87 Swansea 107 Taff Rhondda 6 West Wales 37 1992–93 Cynon, Merthyr, Rhymney Valley 16 Gwyneddigion 94 Mid Wales and Maelor 115 North Gwent and Brecon 67 North Wales Coast 65 Ogwr Afan Nedd 7 South Glamorgan 18 South Gwent and Islwyn 102 Swansea 156 Taff Rhondda 13 West Wales 41 1993–94 Cynon, Merthyr, Rhymney Valley 43 Gwyneddigion 86 Mid Wales and Maelor 105 North Gwent and Brecon 86 North Wales Coast 97 Ogwr Afan Nedd 20 South Glamorgan 25 South Gwent and Islwyn 55 Swansea 200 Taff Rhondda 33 West Wales 113