HC Deb 23 February 1995 vol 255 cc282-4W
Mr. Timms

To 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 Evans

The information is not available.

Mr. Ron Davies

To 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.

Mr. Roger Evans

The 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.

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

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