NEWS BRIEF: DWP social fund still failing

The Department of Work and Pension's Social Fund is still failing to meet the "most basic needs" of some of the poorest people in society, including those facing substantial barriers to entering work, government advisers have warned. A social security advisory committee report says that the proliferation of welfare-to-work initiatives is in danger of alienating the very people they are aimed at. The Social Security Advisory Committee 16th Report can be viewed at www.ssac.org.uk/annrep16/ssac16.pdf.