Social Fund Reports (2009-10)

Thursday 15th July 2010 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb)]

I am pleased to announce the publication of the annual report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund 2009-10 and the Social Fund Commissioner’s annual report 2009-10.

The Secretary of State’s annual report on the Social Fund for 2009-10 was published today and has been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.

The report records that total gross expenditure in 2009-10, excluding winter fuel payments, was over £1.3 billion. This figure included over 263,000 non-repayable community care grants and almost 4 million interest-free loans together worth £850 million. Also, cold weather payments worth £290 million, funeral payments worth £47 million and sure start maternity grants worth £139 million were paid.

In addition an estimated 9.1 million households benefited from a winter fuel payment at an estimated cost of around £2.7 billion.

The Social Fund Commissioner’s report has also been published today and copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.