To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the main purposes/items for which crisis loans were awarded from the social fund; and what is the average value of such loans.
Information relating to 1988–89 and 1989–90 is available in the Secretary of State's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library. Information relating to 1990–91 to 31 December is shown in the table.
| Awards | Average amount £ | |
| Furniture and household items | 32,694 | 214 |
| Rent in advance | 7,507 | 114 |
| Living expenses (general) | 157,950 | 35 |
| Living expenses (alignment) | 154,973 | 34 |
| Clothing/footwear | 5,907 | 91 |
| Others | 13,256 | 64 |
| TOTAL | 372,287 | 55 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of income support claimants are having deductions made for the repayment of social fund loans in each of his Department's offices on Merseyside.
The information requested is in the table.
| Local Office | Percentage |
| Belle Vale | 14·9 |
| Bootle | 14·5 |
| Breckfield | 14·3 |
| City | 21·5 |
| Crosby | 12·7 |
| Edgehill | 15·0 |
| Garston | 13·7 |
| Huyton | 19·0 |
| Kirkby | 15·8 |
| Norris Green | 16·7 |
| Toxteth | 15·7 |
| West Derby | 16·1 |
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the main purposes items for which budgeting loans were awarded from the social fund; and what is the average value of such loans.
Information relating to 1988–89 and 1989–90 is available in the Secretary of State's annual reports, copies of which are in the Library. Information relating to 1990–91 (to 31 December) is shown in the table.
| Awards | Average value £ | |
| Furniture and household items | 364,470 | 231 |
| Washing machine | 18,579 | 208 |
| Bedding | 14,667 | 137 |
| Clothing/Footwear | 37,901 | 138 |
| Others | 24,013 | 177 |
| Total | 459,630 | 217 |