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