HC Deb 23 March 1998 vol 309 cc18-9
19. Mr. Baldry

What percentage of those entitled have received their full entitlement of help towards winter fuel costs. [34061]

Mr. Denham

Winter fuel payments have been an enormous and unprecedented exercise involving the issue of almost 10 million payments to more than 7 million pensioner households. As of today, payments have been dispatched to more than 99 per cent. of eligible pensioners. About 15,000 payments remain to be issued over the next few days.

Mr. Baldry

I am sure the Minister will agree that, until recently, the scheme was a bit of a shambles, with large numbers of payments being made very late in the day. After all the problems this year, can he give the House an undertaking that, if the scheme continues for a further year, it will run more smoothly next year?

Mr. Denham

I do not agree that winter fuel payments have been a shambles. They have been a great success. The Opposition did nothing to provide pensioners with help with their winter heating bills over 18 years in office. The winter fuel payments will be made again next year, and we shall examine the procedures to see what, if any, lessons can be learnt from this year's successful exercise.