---

16 Apr 2007 : Column 249W—continued

Social Fund

Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications to the Social Fund were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [124900]

Mr. Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following tables.

16 Apr 2007 : Column 250W

Initial awards and refusals for community care grants, crisis loans and budgeting loans in Great Britain
	Community Care Grants		Crisis Loans		Budgeting Loans
	Initial awards	Initial refusals	Initial awards	Initial refusals	Initial awards	Initial refusals
March 2006	24,900	28,200	92,700	29,800	108,100	29,600
April 2006	19,700	20,300	70,900	21,100	100,800	17,800
May 2006	23,400	25,200	82,000	24,200	133,600	21,800
June 2006	25,300	29,000	87,900	25,600	129,300	25,100
July 2006	21,500	25,100	79,900	24,900	115,900	23,700
August 2006	22,500	26,700	85,700	27,500	114,500	26,500
September 2006	21,400	26,800	84,100	26,600	96,300	39,400
October 2006	25,300	31,200	97,600	29,700	107,800	44,800
November 2006	26,600	33,300	101,000	32,700	130,400	74,600
December 2006	19,000	24,100	83,900	25,600	90,800	45,300
January 2007	22,000	26,200	101,200	29,700	62,000	38,100
February 2007	22,100	26,200	95,200	31,000	101,600	26,100

Initial awards and refusals for Sure Start maternity grants and funeral payments in Great Britain
	Sure Start maternity grants		Funeral payments
	Initial awards	Initial refusals	Initial awards	Initial refusals
March 2006	19,800	9,100	3,600	2,600
April 2006	15,500	7,300	2,500	2,100
May 2006	18,900	8,700	3,300	2,400
June 2006	20,000	9,200	3,300	2,400
July 2006	19,400	9,200	3,000	2,200
August 2006	18,500	8,900	3,400	2,500
September 2006	19,400	9,500	2,900	2,200
October 2006	19,000	9,600	3,100	2,300
November 2006	19,700	9,400	3,000	2,300
December 2006	14,700	6,600	2,200	1,700
January 2007	20,900	9,400	3,200	2,500
February 2007	17,600	8,500	3,400	2,600

Initial awards and refusals for social fund applications (all five types) in Great Britain
	Initial awards	Initial refusals
March 2006	249,100	99,300
April 2006	209,500	68,600
May 2006	261,100	82,200
June 2006	265,800	91,300
July 2006	239,800	85,100
August 2006	244,600	92,200
September 2006	224,200	104,500
October 2006	252,800	117,600
November 2006	280,700	152,300
December 2006	210,800	103,200
January 2007	200,300	106,000
February 2007	239,800	94,200
Notes: 1. Figures do not include awards or refusals made after review, reconsideration or appeal. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures (a) have been and
16 Apr 2007 : Column 251W
(b) are planned to be put in place to assist (i) pensioners and (ii) claimants for whom English is a second language in accessing the Social Fund system. [130178]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 16 April 2007:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what measures (a) have been and (b) are planned to be put in place to assist (i) pensioners and (ii) claimants for whom English is a second language in accessing the Social Fund system. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Pensioners can make enquiries about the Social Fund to the Pension Service or to Jobcentre Plus. Pension Centres hold stocks of Social Fund application forms and staff will give general advice about the Social Fund. If more detailed information is required customers will be directed to their nearest Jobcentre Plus office that deals with the Social Fund.

With regard to customers for whom English is a second language, it is the policy of the Department for Work and Pensions to provide an interpreter when there is a need to communicate with a customer who is unable to communicate adequately in English, and who cannot, or does not wish, to provide their own interpreter. This service can be provided by the use of multi-lingual staff, the use of face-to-face interpreters, either from known local interpreting services, or from the departmental face-to-face interpreting contract or by using the Departmental telephone interpreting contract.

The Jobcentre Plus leaflet "Jobcentre Plus—Our service standards" gives customers information about help available if they do not speak English. This leaflet is available on the Jobcentre Plus Internet website in a number of languages. There are also four leaflets dealing specifically with the Social Fund that are available in English or Welsh in a printed version and that can also be accessed along with versions in several other languages via the Jobcentre Plus Internet.

There are no additional measures planned to assist pensioners or customers for whom English is a second language in accessing the Social Fund.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library copies of the (a) race impact assessments, (b) gender impact assessments and (c) disability impact assessments for the four London transitional offices prior to the centralisation of Social Fund work in London in the 2007-08 financial year. [130180]

Mr. Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 16 April 2007:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking if he will place in the Library copies of the (a) race impact assessments, (b) gender impact assessments and (c) disability impact assessments for the four London transitional offices prior to the centralisation of Social Fund work in London in the 2007- 08 financial year. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The Race Impact Assessment for London Benefit processing has been published on the Jobcentre Plus website (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) and a copy will be placed in the Library.

16 Apr 2007 : Column 252W

We are in the process of reviewing the Race Impact Assessment with our Diversity and Equality colleagues, taking into account changes which have taken place since May 2005. This review will also include gender and disability Impact Assessments and will be completed by May 2007. The outcome of the review will be published on the Jobcentre Plus website and a copy will be placed in the Library.

---