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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change in real terms spending power was provided by the cash rise in the community care grant budget from 1997-1998 to 2002-03; and if he will make a statement. [85157] Malcolm Wicks: The community care grant budget, previously frozen since 1994, has been increased four times since 1997. In 1997-98 the community care grant budget was £972 million, which in 2002-03 prices is equivalent to £109.21 million. The 2002-03 community care grant budget is £1082 million, a drop of £1.2 million, or 1.1 per cent. At the same time there has been a drop in the number of people receiving income-related benefits which give access to community care grants (Income Support, the Minimum Income Guarantee and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance. Between 1997-98 and 2000-01 the reduction was 9.9 per cent.3 and a further fall in the numbers is forecast with an expected drop of 10.8 per cent. between 1997-98 and 2002-033. As a result, the per capita amount available to people eligible for community care grants has risen by 10.8 per cent. in real terms. 1 `Real terms' refers to 2002-03 prices, calculated using HM Treasury's GDP deflator series, published on 27 November 2002. The GDP deflator for 2002-03 is a working assumption. Sources: 2 Secretary of State's Annual Reports on the Social Fund 1997-98 and 2001-02. 3 Benefit Forecasting and Model Development Division's latest expenditure and case load tables.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

85157; 396 c1004W;396 c1002W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Community care grants Finance Grants Low incomes

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk