Discretionary Social Fund

House of Lords written question – answered at on 19 March 2014.

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Photo of Baroness King of Bow Baroness King of Bow Labour

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 3 March (WA 278), what evidence they have that Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans were “poorly targeted and failed to help those most in need”.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 3 March (WA 278), which authorities have decided to “wind-down their local Discretionary Social Fund replacement schemes following underspends this year”.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Work and Pensions, Steve Webb MP, on 20 January (HC Deb, col 49W), when Ministers announced that it was their intention that “2014–15 would be the last year of separate funding for local welfare provision from the Department for Work and Pensions”.

Photo of Lord Freud Lord Freud The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The coalition Government outlined the evidence in Local support to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses in England, Government response to the call for evidence June 2011. A copy was placed in the House library and it can be found online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence

Nottinghamshire County Council have consulted on their plans to wind down their dedicated scheme and provide support by other means. Information on other authorities will be provided by the review my Department will shortly be carrying out about the way local authorities have used the funding provided following the abolition of the discretionary Social Fund. We are making arrangements with local authorities regarding this. A copy of the findings will be placed in the House Library.

There has never been a commitment to provide specific funding beyond 2014/15. On the basis of experience on the ground since support was localised, central government believes that it makes most sense for councils to choose how much funding to allocate to these services in their areas in future—according to local priorities and needs—and how to provide such support.

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