HC Deb 26 November 1993 vol 233 cc211-3W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in which parts of the United Kingdom cold weather payments have been triggered during the very cold weather during November; and if he will outline the main conditions to be met before cold weather payments are triggered.

The overwhelming majority of visiting officers available to the Department of Social Security are associated with the administration of claims to Income Support and the Social Fund. Since 1 April 1991, the Benefits Agency has been solely responsible for that administration.

The Contributions Agency and Child Support Agency are also Executive Agencies of the Department and have some visiting staff available to them. However, the duties of those staff and their deployment throughout the United Kingdom are fundamentally different to those of Benefits Agency staff and I am advised by my colleagues in those Agencies that information relating specifically to visiting staff is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. For these reasons I have excluded those staff from the figures I present to you.

The numbers of Income Support and Social Fund visiting staff for which resources were made available for each of the last four years are shown on the attached table. (Table attached.) However, local managers do have the authority to deploy their resources differently, using their knowledge of local needs and circumstances.

I am afraid that comparative information for the financial year 1989–90 is not available.

Staffing projections for this work area are currently part of the PES negotiations. These projections take account of current requirements, as well as unemployment and other demographic factors which arise influencing benefit take up and activity. I may say that at this stage significant changes to current requirements are not anticipated.

Finally may I assure you that the Benefits Agency is fully committed to maintain the home visiting service as a key element of its "customer service programme."

I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

Mr. Scott

The administration of cold weather payments is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. David Winnick, dated 25 November 1993: As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking, in which parts of the United Kingdom cold weather payments have been triggered during the very cold weather in November, and if he will outline the main conditions to be met before cold weather payments are triggered. A period of cold weather is classed as seven consecutive days during which the average mean daily temperature is, or is forecast to be 0 degrees Centigrade or less. A forecast is based on information received daily, by the Agency, from the Met. Office. As of 25 November cold weather had been triggered or forecast for areas covered by 43 Benefits Agency (BA) Districts which are listed in the attached appendix. I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library. BA districts which have triggered or been forecast for a period of cold weather as of 25 November 1993.

  • Barnsley
  • Berkshire
  • Blackburn and Accrington
  • Bradford
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale
  • Central Derbyshire
  • Central Staffordshire
  • Clyde Valley1
  • East Lowlands1
  • Gloucester
  • Grampian and Shetland1
  • Gwyneddigion
  • Hampshire North
  • Hereford and Worcester
  • Highlands and Islands1
  • Leeds, Aire and Wharfe
  • London Central
  • Mid Wales and Maelor
  • North Cumbria1
  • North Derbyshire
  • North Gwent and Brecon
  • North Staffordshire
  • North Wales Coast
  • North Worcestershire
  • Oldham
  • Oxfordshire
  • Sale/East Cheshire
  • Sheffield West
  • Shropshire
  • South Cheshire
  • South Derbyshire
  • South and East Hampshire and Wight
  • South West Scotland1
  • Stockport
  • Surrey Downs
  • Tameside
  • Tayside1
  • Warwickshire
  • West Pennine
  • Wiltshire
  • Wolverhampton
  • Yorkshire Pennine
  • 1Indicates a forecast.