Cold Weather Payments

HC Deb 05 December 1989 vol 163 c156W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will increase the cold weather payments for the coming winter in line with the cost of living.

Mr. Scott

No. We believe that £5 is a reasonable amount to pay towards the extra expenses for heating incurred in each week of very cold weather.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each social security office the budget surplus or deficit at the end of the winter 1988–89 for cold weather payment provision.

Mr. Scott

Local offices do not have budgets for cold weather payments. Such payments are regulated and consequently are not subject to local budgetary constraints.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for the winter of 1988–89, by Department of Social Security office, the amount of cold weather payments that were made.

Mr. Scott

In the winter of 1988–89, a total of 502 cold weather payments totalling £2,510 were paid by the Department's local office at Galashiels. No other awards were made, because the weather last winter was so mild.