Contracting Out The Social Fund

EDM number 632 in 2008-09, proposed by John McDonnell on 29/01/2009.
Categorised under the topics of Benefits administration and Benefits policy.

That this House notes the Government's recent proposals on the Social Fund had an exceptionally short consultation period and no response has been published by the Government; further notes that the Welfare Reform Bill proposes to contract out social fund loans and to restrict availability to loans from Jobcentres where there is provision by another provider; further notes that there were four million applications for a discretionary payment in 2007-08 showing loans are a much-needed lifeline for people struggling to manage on very low incomes; is opposed to moving the provision of the Social Fund out of the Department for Work and Pensions because it will put this popular and successful service at risk; supports credit unions but notes that some have become insolvent and KPMG was correct when it concluded in its report that there was no suitable national partner to whom Social Fund work could be contracted out; believes there is no reason why the fund should be limited to people on certain benefits; believes the Department for Work and Pensions is by far the best placed organisation to deliver the Social Fund because it is able to deliver this service to every person in the country who needs it; and calls on the Government to state categorically that it will not allow interest to be charged on Social Fund loans.

This motion has been signed by a total of 43 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.