asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the cumulative means size of grant to families of handicapped children by the Family Fund in each month since September 1977 and the number of first payments to families;(2) if he will list the grants made each year to the Family Fund by his Department since the fund was set up in both money terms and constant prices based on the date of the first payment;(3) if he will list the average initial payment to a family from she Family Fund in each year since the fund was set up, both in money terms and at constant prices;(4) if he is satisfied that the Family Fund is still able to perform the function for which it was set up; and if he will make a statement;(5) if he will list any restrictions which have been introduced by the Family Fund on items for which grants could be made which have been introduced in each year since the fund was set up.
As my hon. Friend will appreciate, prior to its establishment no other organisation was performing the kind of functions for which the fund was created. It was to be expected that. during the first two or three years, the need for provisions by it would show a constant increase and then level out. This is what happened and, notwithstanding the effects of inflation, the fund has remained able to perform the functions for which it was set up. Naturally, the type and nature of help given by the fund has altered over the years. The reasons include changing demand, the increase in the number of second and third applications and the difficulty of making contact with families who, due to various causes, have not themselves approached the fund.Changing circumstances, notably the introduction of mobility allowance, have necessarily caused the fund's administrators to adjust their policies over provision in certain ways. For example, they would not now provide second-hand cars save in exceptional circumstances. However, the principal objective—that of relieving sreets—is still being met.The specific information about grants to the Family Fund by my Department to date—excluding grants towards administrative costs—is set out below:
| April 1973 to 30th September 1974 | 1st October 1974 to 30th September 1975 | 1st October 1975 to 30th September 1976 | 1st October 1976 to 30th September 1977 | 1st October 1977 to 30th September 1978 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Average payment | 155 | 170 | 130 | 126 | 135 |
| Constant prices based on RPI for September 1974 | 155 | 134 | 90 | 76 | 75 |
| Month | Cumulative mean size of grant | Number of first payments |
| £ | ||
| 1977— | ||
| September | 315 | 410 |
| October | 316 | 377 |
| November | 317 | 480 |
| December | 317 | 308 |
| 1978— | ||
| January | 319 | 413 |
| February | 324 | 430 |
| March | 326 | 302 |
| April | 329 | 392 |
| May | 333 | 392 |
| June | 338 | 458 |
| July | 342 | 488 |
| August | 344 | 365 |
| September | 344 | 253 |
| NOTE: The cumulative mean grant is the mean total amount paid to each family helped by the Family Fund. | ||