Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the next Social Fund Annual Report.

The publication of the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 includes data that was initially published in the Social Fund Account 2018/19. Publication of the Social Fund Account 2018/19 on GOV.UK was delayed by queries from the National Audit Office and by last minute changes to Parliamentary recess dates. It was finally published on 11 February 2020.

The publication of the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 was subsequently delayed by urgent COVID-19 work, including the increase to the Funeral Expenses Payments additional costs limit from £700 to £1000, further changes to regulations as well as work with operations to improve the speed of processing.

We aim to publish the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 by October. We aim to publish the Social Fund Annual Report 2019/20 by the end of November.