HC Deb 10 May 2000 vol 349 cc411-2W
Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have applied for money from the Social Fund and how much money was issued in loans through the Social Fund, in each of the last three years in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) North-West England. [120099]

Angela Eagle

The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 9 May 2000: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have applied for money from the Social Fund and how much money was issued in loans through the Social Fund, in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) North-West England. The figures are included in the attached table. I hope this is helpful.

Social Fund loan applications received and amount paid in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) North-West England
Loan applications received Amountawarded (£)
Scotland
1997–98 416,440 45,723,467
1998–99 451,166 52,116,199
1999–2000 540,568 62,531,213
Wales
1997–98 141,528 21,383.254
1998–99 145,645 24,235,488
1999–2000 179,046 28,263,893
England
1997–98 1,829,400 297,931,497
1998–99 1,865,090 326,829,719
1999–2000 2,254,049 366,347.142
North-West England
1997–98 369,604 53,248,210
1998–99 385,715 60,206,891
1999–2000 478,177 75,569,806

Notes:

  1. 1. Figures show the total number of all applications for budgeting loans and crisis loans. Individual customers may have made more than one application.
  2. 2. North-West England is defined as the area covered by the Benefits Agency Area Directorates 8 (North-West Coast) and 9 (Greater Manchester).
  3. 3. Some loans paid clerically, and adjustments between awards of loans and grants on review, are not recorded on the computer system. The figures do not therefore add up to total loans awarded for each year as published in the Social Fund Accounts.
  4. 4. 1999–2000 expenditure is provisional pending publication of the Social Fund Account.