§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the estates in the Manchester area with heating systems which have been designated as disproportionately expensive to run since his answer of 18 June 1984, Official Report, columns 56–7; how many homes in the area have now been designated; and what has been the total cost since this matter was first raised with his Department by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe.
§ Mr. WhitneyFourteen certificates designating heating systems as being disproportionately expensive to run under paragraph 6 of schedule 4 of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations 1983 have been issued for the Greater Manchester area since 18 June 1984. Each certificate may cover the heating system or systems on one, part of, or more than one estate. I shall write to the right hon. Member giving details of the estates concerned.
Designation under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 applies to heating systems. Information on the numbers of homes containing all the designated heating systems in the Greater Manchester area is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. A total of 74 certificates of designation have been issued for the Greater Manchester area since the current arrangements were introduced in 1982. The total cost of estate rate heating additions in the area would depend on the number of supplementary benefit claimants with heating systems affected, the size of the homes, the length of time on benefit and underlying entitlement to other heating additions. This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.