§ Dr. BrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the dates on which, at(a) Glasgow airport and (b) Edinburgh airport, the average mean daily temperature for seven consecutive days was equal to or below 0 deg Celsius, and thus triggered cold weather payments in the Glasgow-Strathclyde area and the Edinburgh area, respectively.
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§ Mr. ScottEdinburgh airport weather station has not triggered this winter, as at 5 February 1991.
Glasgow airport weather station has triggered twice. The average mean daily temperature for the week ending 16 January 1991 was -0.2 deg C and for the seven days preceding 4 February the temperature was -0.1 deg C.
Full details of average mean daily temperatures recorded at all the weather stations can be found in the Library.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) pursuant to his answer of 7 February on cold weather payments arrangements, what is the estimated extra cost of the amendments to the scheme per week; and for how long the revised arrangements will endure;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 7 February on cold weather payments, whether claimants will receive payments earlier under his revised scheme;
(3) pursuant to his answer of 7 February on cold weather payments arrangements, whether arising from the waiving of the seven-day qualifying rule claimants will be paid for part weeks and single days.
§ Mr. ScottAs my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister said today, given the continuation of the widespread and exceptional severe weather, we are again waiving the seven-day qualifying period this week. As at last Thursday, the coming Thursday 14 February will be deemed to be the trigger day for all areas of the country which have not already triggered; and people in the appropriate group will be eligible for payment, at the new enhanced rate of £6, for the current seven days just as they will for the seven days up to last Thursday. We shall continue to monitor the situation carefully, and if the cold weather should continue to the same degree we shall take similar measures.
It will not be possible to give the cost of the changes to the scheme until it is known how many people have claimed. Claimants will, as before, receive payment as soon as possible after making a successful claim. All payments will relate to a seven-day period.