§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) loans and (b) grants had been made in each region by the social fund in the last year for which figures are available. [32829]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mr. Ian Magee to Mr. Jim Cunningham dated 12 July 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of Social Fund loans and grants made in each region in the last year for which figures are available.With the creation of the Benefits Agency in April 1991, offices were grouped into Districts. These were then grouped into Area Directorates within three Territorial Directorates.702WI have therefore provides, at Annex A, the information requested by Area Directorate for the financial year 1994–95.I hope you find this information helpful.
Annex A: Number of community care grants and loans awarded in the Benefits Agency area directorates during the financial year 1994–95 Territory and area directorate Grant awards Loan awards Scotland and Northern Tyne Tees 18,734 101,582 South Yorkshire and Humberside 17,542 93,609 North and West Yorkshire 11,783 82,189 Glasgow and Paisley 16,238 101,581 North, Central and West Scotland 17,974 76,117 East Scotland 10,047 66,912 Territory total 92,318 521,990 Southern Anglia 12,802 66,188 Chilterns 11,014 70,841 South London and West Sussex 9,678 66,770 West Country 16,792 93,515 Essex and East London 13,192 73,637 South East 11,551 81,904 Wessex 10,543 73,138 Territory total 85,572 525,993 Wales and Central East Midlands 13,078 74,587 Midlands South West 12,563 61,408 West Mercia 15,814 77,079 Wales 20,860 88,708 Merseyside 17,456 100,879 Greater Manchester 14,693 91,676 Lancashire and Cumbria 12,263 76,961 Territory total 106,727 571,298 National total 284,617 1,619,281