HC Deb 25 November 1986 vol 106 c191W
17. Mr. Andrew Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will reconsider his decision to include a £500 capital limit in the criteria of eligibility for exceptionally severe weather payments.

Mr. Major

No. The £500 capital rule is in line with that for other single payments.

25. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the new severe weather payments will be made to all on supplementary benefit.

Mr. Major

Those who will be eligible, subject to the normal £500 capital rule, will be householders where there is a member of the family as assessed for supplementary benefit purposes who is aged 65 or over, chronically sick or disabled, or aged under two.

35. Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of the payments made last winter under the severe weather payments scheme.

38. Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many payments were made last year under the severe weather payments scheme.

Mr. Lyell

The information is not yet available. Local offices have been asked to make a return so that the number of payments and total amount paid can be calculated.

39. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the number of payments of severe weather allowance which would have been made in 1985–86 using the new criteria recently proposed by the Government.

Mr. Major

It is not possible with hindsight to make a valid estimate since amounts paid would depend on claimants' capital holding and take-up in the affected area.

53. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the new scheme for severe weather payments.

Mr. Major

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro), on 20 November at columns326–27.