To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the financial amount allocated to each social security office in South Down in the financial year 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 and from 1 April 1989 to 31 October in respect of the social fund by central Government; how much of this amount was actually spent in each office; and whether the Government will carry out a review of the social fund system in Northern Ireland.

Allocations are made for a full year. Information on the amounts allocated for 1988–89 and 1989–90 and on monthly expenditure is available in the Library. The Government continue to monitor the operation of the social fund, but there are no plans for a review of the scheme.