The requested information is detailed in the table below:<\/p>
<\/p>
Category<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2012-13 <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2013-14 <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2014-15 <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2015-16 <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 2016-17 <\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total Budget<\/p><\/td> £99.9 m<\/p><\/td> £127.6 m<\/p><\/td> £178.8 m<\/p><\/td> £76.8 m<\/p><\/td> £51.7 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr> - Transport<\/p><\/td> £13.4 m<\/p><\/td> £19.2 m<\/p><\/td> £20.2 m<\/p><\/td> £15.4 m<\/p><\/td> £13.5 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr> - Childcare<\/p><\/td> £1.6 m<\/p><\/td> £1.8 m<\/p><\/td> £1.5 m<\/p><\/td> £1.6 m<\/p><\/td> £1.2 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr> - Training<\/p><\/td> £15.5 m<\/p><\/td> £18.6 m<\/p><\/td> £10.6 m<\/p><\/td> £15.2 m<\/p><\/td> £8.4 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr> - Other<\/p><\/td> £84.5 m<\/p><\/td> £70.6 m<\/p><\/td> £59.2 m<\/p><\/td> £26.1 m<\/p><\/td> £27.8 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Total <\/strong><\/p><\/td> £115.0 m<\/strong><\/p><\/td> £110.1 m<\/strong><\/p><\/td> £91.5 m<\/strong><\/p><\/td> £58.4 m<\/strong><\/p><\/td> £51.0 m<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td> <\/p><\/td><\/tr> Underspend<\/p><\/td> (£15.2m)<\/p><\/td> £17.5 m<\/p><\/td> £87.3 m<\/p><\/td> £18.4 m<\/p><\/td> £0.7 m<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Underspend (%)<\/p><\/td> (15.2%)<\/p><\/td> 13.7%<\/p><\/td> 48.8%<\/p><\/td> 24.0%<\/p><\/td> 1.4%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> All figures have been rounded to the nearest £100,000, with negative values enclosed in brackets.<\/p> <\/p> The budget for the Flexible Support Fund is subject to annual review and change based on claimant needs and volumes, and as new policies are agreed and old policies are withdrawn. As discretionary expenditure, it is also dependent upon overall Departmental affordability.<\/p> <\/p> The level of expenditure reflects these changing policies and the level of claimant demand. In 2014/15 the Department received funding as part of the Spending Review 2013 in order to meet travel and childcare costs to facilitate additional support for claimants. However, the demand for this increased funding was limited.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "131066"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-13T16:29:03.563Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of the Flexible Support Fund was unspent in each of the last five years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4263", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lucy Powell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Manchester Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lucy Powell"}
], "uin" : "131067"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/686242", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/686242/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not available<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-02-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-02-20T16:21:44.953Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-02-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants have received support through the Flexible Support Fund following changes to work allowances introduced in March 2016.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4212", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oldham East and Saddleworth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Debbie Abrahams"}
], "uin" : "63527"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/669108", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/669108/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The budget allocated for Flexible Support Fund (FSF) in 15/16 was £69.5 million. Spend was £61.5 million, leaving an underspend of £8.4 million.<\/p> <\/p> The budget allocated for Flexible Support Fund (FSF) in 16/17 is £50 million. Spend was £31.5 million up to the end of November 2016.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-11T16:36:54.52Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much and what proportion of the Flexible Support Fund was unspent in 2015-16; and how much of the 2016-17 allocation has been spent to date.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "58941"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/522719", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/522719/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The purpose of the correspondence was to notify the claimants who may be affected of the changes to the work allowances and to highlight the work coach as the primary source of additional support.<\/p> <\/p> As the Flexible Support Fund is accessed at the discretion of the work coach and is based on individual claimant need, it was not explicitly referred to in the letter.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4066", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Priti Patel"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Priti Patel"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-06-08T09:00:49.25Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35354, for what reasons the correspondence does not inform claimants of the availability of the Flexible Support Fund.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4042", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pontypridd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Smith"}
], "uin" : "39122"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/522721", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/522721/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The budget for Flexible Support Fund (FSF) is subject to annual review and change. This is based on claimant needs and volumes, and as new policies are agreed and old policies are withdrawn. As discretionary expenditure it is also dependent upon overall Departmental affordability.<\/p> The FSF budget has actually increased between 2015/16 and 2016/17. In 2015/16 it was £69.5m. It is £76.7m for 2016/17.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4066", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Priti Patel"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Priti Patel"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-06-08T12:49:17.827Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the allocation for the Flexible Support Fund is lower in 2016-17 than in 2015-16.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4042", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pontypridd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Smith"}
], "uin" : "39120"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/515474", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/515474/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Flexible Support Fund allocation for 2016-17 is £64m. This figure is subject to change throughout the year.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4066", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Priti Patel"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Priti Patel"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-05-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-05-04T15:19:12.923Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 February 2016 to Question 26246, what funding his Department has allocated to the Flexible Support Fund in 2016-17.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4042", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pontypridd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Smith"}
], "uin" : "35261"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/451389", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/451389/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The allocation for FSF for 2015/16 is £69.0m. The allocation for FSF for the rest of this parliament has not been agreed.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4066", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Priti Patel"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Priti Patel"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-02-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-02-11T13:21:30.917Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-02-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding his Department has allocated to the Flexible Support Fund for each year of the present Parliament.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4042", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Owen Smith"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Pontypridd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Owen Smith"}
], "uin" : "26246"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/424694", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/424694/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The budget allocated for Flexible Support Fund in 14/15 was £136m [excluding the support contract which was a further £20m]. Spend was £72m, leaving an underspend of £64m<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4066", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Priti Patel"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Priti Patel"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-11-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-11-02T13:20:04.637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what budget was allocated to the Flexible Support Fund in the most recent financial year for which data is available; and how much of that budget remained unspent.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"}
], "uin" : "13804"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178610", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178610/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not available.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-12T16:29:00.51Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was allocated by Jobcentre Plus district managers to local partnerships through the Flexible Support Fund in each year since 2011.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "223807"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178614", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/178614/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not available.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-02-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-02-12T16:33:47.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-02-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent from the Flexible Support Fund on supporting jobseekers to travel to job interviews in (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "223804"}
], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&hansardHeading=Flexible+Support+Fund&max-answer.questionFirstAnswered.=2018-03-13T16%3A29%3A03.563Z", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 17, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]}
}
|