Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 30 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 November 2002. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Thursday, 7 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a statement on his policy on the future availability of Social Fund loans and their extension to a wider group of people on low incomes, with particular reference to (a) providing support to families with children and (b) combating social exclusion; if he will ensure that the Social Fund continue to provide (a) loans and (b) an improved system of grants; if he will review the arrangements for access to Crisis Loans; if he will abolish the qualification period of 26 weeks for Budgeting Loans; if he will change the eligibility criteria to enable people whose sole income is contributory benefit such as incapacity benefit or contribution based jobseeker's allowance to apply for help from both the discretionary and the regulated Social Fund.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 392 c662-3W;392 c676-7W; 79221;79206;79208;79213;79215
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Disadvantaged Eligibility Low incomes Loans Social security benefits Social Fund
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk