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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will change the rules and guidance for community care grants and crisis loans to ensure that applicants without (a) a cooker and (b) a bed are given a grant or loan. [85167] Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides people on low incomes with grants and loans to help them manage a wide range of unexpected or occasional costs, including the purchase of beds and cookers, depending on their individual circumstances. On 27 November, we announced that from April 2003, £90 million will be added to the discretionary fund over the three years to 2005-06. This extra investment will enhance the fund's ability to help those on low incomes manage their finances. We have already introduced a number of important changes to the Social Fund. We have simplified the budgeting loan scheme so that all applicants who satisfy the qualifying conditions, and have no outstanding Social Fund debt, will be offered a loan. We have also extended the qualifying conditions for community care grants to help people setting up home in the community who have been without a settled way of life.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

85167; 396 c1005W;396 c1003W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Applications Community care grants Consumer goods Furniture Low incomes Loans Social Fund Crisis loans Budgeting loans

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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