§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in respect of cold weather payments(a) on how many occasions payments have been made in advance of predicted cold weather, (b) how much has been paid, (c) in which areas payments have been made and (d) what information he has received on the likely rate of error in predictions of cold weather sufficient to trigger payments.
§ Mr. ScottCold weather periods have been forecast at 23 weather stations so far this winter. To date, a total of £8,548,026 has been paid out on cold weather payments, for all types of trigger, and further payments will be sent out this week. For details of stations which triggered up to 14 December I refer the hon. Member to my "reply to the hon. Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. Morgan) on 20 December at columns373–4. The use of forecasts is one of several improvements made in 1991 to the cold weather payments scheme. Forecasting can never be 100 per cent. accurate, but the retrospective trigger mechanism remains in place to pick up any cold spells which actually occur but were not forecast. The new elements of the scheme are being kept under review in order to ensure the best possible advice is provided by the Meteorological Office. The weather stations and postcode districts affected by the forecast triggers which have occurred since 14 December are:
- Eskdalemuir
- Coningsby
- Finningley
- Waddington
- Bedford
- Cwmbargoed
- Easthampstead
- Honington
- Lyneham
- Trawsfynydd
- Wyton
- Gatwick
- Herstmonceux
- Wattisham
- Birmingham
- Brize Norton