MP blasts Government for axing crisis fund

Oldham MP Michael Meacher has slammed the Government for cutting a fund aimed at providing support to those in crisis.

The Oldham West and Royton MP said axing the Social Fund was “enormously painful and destructive” for a small saving.

He said: “The Social Fund is the last helpline for the poorest families in extreme distress often brought on by an unexpected financial crisis.

“There has been a last-resort lifebelt in place for the hardest-hit families since 1948, and its removal may quite likely cause an explosion when families, often including children, are left literally destitute.”

Crisis loans schemes and community-care grants were handed out directly from councils after they took responsibility for it from central government last year. Now the multi-million-pound fund is to be scrapped, councils will have to give help from their own funds.

Mr Meacher added: “The Tories will no doubt argue that it’s part of the drive to make savings to reduce the budget deficit.