§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost of a week's cold weather payment to all those who were eligible if the capital limit was(a) raised to £6,000 and (b) abolished.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIf the capital limit were to be increased to £6,000 or abolished and all those eligible received a payment, the cost of one week's cold weather payments would be £13 million. No one with capital of more than £6,000 can qualify for income support and since this benefit acts as a passport to cold weather payments, to abolish the capital limit would admit no more people to the scheme than would raising the limit to £6,000.