Financial Assistance Scheme Mr. Philip Hammond To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received payment from the Financial Assistance Scheme; and how many payments have been made from the scheme in each month for which figures are available. James Purnell As at 17 November 2006, the Financial Assistance Scheme had paid 557 people.44 more people will be paid as soon as they have confirmed their personal details and a further 133 have been assessed and will be paid when they reach age 65. The following monthly figures are available up to and including 17 November 2006: --------------------------------------------- | |New payments|Cumulative total| --------------------------------------------- |2005 | | | --------------------------------------------- |December |13 |13 | --------------------------------------------- |2006 | | | --------------------------------------------- |January |2 |15 | --------------------------------------------- |February |12 |27 | --------------------------------------------- |March |5 |32 | --------------------------------------------- |April |11 |43 | --------------------------------------------- |May |43 |86 | --------------------------------------------- |June |58 |144 | --------------------------------------------- |July |66 |210 | --------------------------------------------- |August |76 |286 | --------------------------------------------- |September |108 |394 | --------------------------------------------- |October |60 |454 | --------------------------------------------- |November1 |103 |557 | --------------------------------------------- |Total |557 | | --------------------------------------------- |1 Up to 17th.| | | ---------------------------------------------