Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Monday, 15 April 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 April 2002. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Thursday, 18 April 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 list the guidance issued to Social Fund staff on the administration of the Social Fund since 1997. - INc ref to to guides.

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the guidance issued to Social Fund staff on the administration of the Social Fund since 1997. [51048] Malcolm Wicks: Prior to January 1999 guidance to staff administering the Social Fund was in nine separate guides: The Social Fund Guide--Volumes 1 and 2; The Social Fund System Reference Guide volumes 1 to 7; The Social Fund Customer and Application Detail Guide; The Social Fund Printed Output Guide; The Social Fund Decision and Review Guide; The Social Fund Breakdown of Recovery Guide; The Social Fund Review Officers Guide; The Social Fund Risk Management Guide; and The Social Fund Funeral and Maternity Guide. The guidance was restructured in January 1999. From that date, guidance on Social Fund legislation and the Secretary of State's directions for the non-regulated fund are set out in the new Social Fund Guide. Operations and procedural guidance is set out in the following volumes: The Social Fund Budgeting Loan Guide; The Social Fund Community Care Grant and Crisis Loan Guide; The Social Fund Customer Guide; The Social Fund Enquiry Guide; The Social Fund Payment Guide; The Social Fund Recovery Guide; The Social Fund Regulated Fund Guide; The Social Fund Review and Complaints Guide; and The Social Fund Management Guide. New guidance is circulated to staff in bulletins which are then incorporated into the main guides. 108 bulletins have been produced since January 1997.

Secondary information