§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications were made for crisis loans in(a) 1996 and (b) 1997; how many have been made to date in 1998; and what proportion of the applications have been successful in each year. [39715]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is set out in the table.
As discretionary Social Fund annual allocations are made for the period 1 April to 31 March, the statistics on crisis loans are presented in the same way.
Applications and awards of crisis loans 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Applications 000s 1,111 1,022 11,057 Initial Awards 000s 832 765 1803 Awards as percentage of Applications 75 75 76 1 These are initial figures and may be subject to amendment before the publication in the summer of the Annual Report by the Secretary of State on the Social Fund for 1997–98.