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Social Fund

Volume 83: debated on Monday 22 July 1985

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which single payments currently payable under the supplementary benefit scheme will be met by the social fund by means of (a) grant or (b) loans for; clothing and footwear, baby items/bedding, furniture and household equipment, hire purchase debt for furniture and household goods, removal expenses, house repairs, redecoration, returnable deposit for accommodation, rent in advance, legal fees for renewal of a lease, survey fees, irregular housing costs, gardening costs, costs associated with seeking and starting work, fares to visit a relative in hospital or a home or in a domestic crisis or to visit a child when custody has not been decided, fuel debts, heating appliances, draught-proofing, hot water cylinder jackets, slot meter and reconnection charges, and payments where a claimant has been underpaid or to replace money spent from weekly living expenses.

The proposals for the social fund, as outlined in chapter 2, volume 2 of the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security", imply a different approach to help with special needs from the present single payments system as categorised by the hon. Member. We shall be giving further consideration to the circumstances where payments might be made from the social fund in the light of consultations on the Green Paper.