§ Paul GogginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what gross budget will be set for the discretionary Social Fund in 2002–03. [46332]
§ Malcolm WicksThe discretionary Social Fund budget for 2002–03 will be £627 million. This represents an increase of £6.4 million over the total gross budget allocated in April 2001.
As part of this allocation, the Community Care Grant budget will be increased by £5 million to £108 million. The loans budget will be £518 million, an increase of £1.4 million over that allocated in April 2001.
£1 million will be retained centrally as a contingency reserve. For example, to provide additional help to Districts facing unexpected and unplanned expenditure.
Further details of individual District budget allocations, and the basis on which these were made, have been placed in the Library.