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Dept of Social Security;Social Security Benefits Agency

Answer

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many successful applications were made in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale for assistance from the social fund for (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis loans, (iii) community care grants, (iv) maternity expenses, (v) funeral expenses and (iv) cold weather payments for each of the past five years for which figures are available. [21546] Mr. Roger Evans: The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member. Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 21 March 1997: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting information on successful applications made in the constituencies of Roxburgh, Berwickshire, Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale for assistance from the Social Fund for Budgeting Loans, Crisis Loans, Community Care Grants, Maternity Expenses, Funeral Expenses and Cold Weather Payments, for each of the last five years. The information requested is not available in the format requested. The Benefits Agency (BA) collates statistics by BA Districts and not by Parliamentary constituencies. Information for East Lowlands Districts which includes offices at Edinburgh South, Edinburgh East and Galashiels is shown in the attached table. Information relating to Cold Weather Payments can be found in the statistical section of the House of Commons Library. The data is held in the Social Fund Statistical Load file under Cold Weather Payments by District Office. For 1992/93 it is available for each Benefit Office. From 1993/94 to date it is available for each District Office and Area Directorate. I hope you find this reply helpful. Number of awards, east Lowlands district, 1991-96 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Application type Awards 1991-92 Budgeting loan 4,757 Community care grant 1,752 Crisis loan 5,250 Funeral payment 317 Maternity payment 1,322 1992-93 Budgeting loan 4,928 Community care grant 1,867 Crisis loan 5,424 Funeral payment 374 Maternity payment 1,258 1993-94 Budgeting loan 5,007 Community care grant 1,813 Crisis loan payment 5,052 Funeral payment 404 Maternity payment 1,230 1994-95 Budgeting loan 4,925 Community care grant 1898 Crisis loan 4,753 Funeral payment 358 Maternity [payment 1,155 1995-96 Budgeting loan 4,997 Community care grant 1,749 Crisis loan 5,073 Funeral payment 349 Maternity payment 1,250 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Figures are provisional and subject to change.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

21546; 292 c1017-8W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Social Fund Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Roxburgh and Berwickshire

Contains statistics

Yes