§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many alignment payments were awarded in each of the last 10 years; what the expenditure on alignment payments was in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. 1620011
§ Malcolm WicksSocial Fund alignment payments provide valuable help to people awaiting their first payment of wages on taking up work. They can also help people with essential day-to-day living expenses in advance of their first payment of benefit.
The information is in the table.
Social Fund crisis loan alignment payments Year Number of payments Expenditure (£ million) 1992–93 226,737 9 1993–94 273,171 11 1994–95 326,864 13 1995–96 366,865 14 1996–97 1344,737 14 1997–98 1398,731 17 1998–99 1433,851 20 1999–2000 474,076 23 2000–01 476,936 24 2001–02 486,031 27 1 Technical problems with Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System mean that figures for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99 may be subject to a margin of error of 5 per cent to 10 per cent. and should therefore be treated as a guide only. Notes:
1. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £ million.
2. Awards including alignment payments may include other items. Source:
Annual Reports by the Secretary of State on the Social Fund 1992–93 to 2000–01 and Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.