§ Mr. WicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on(a) the operation of and (b) the forecasting procedures for cold weather payments. [9624]
§ Mr. HealdThe cold weather payments scheme, which runs from 1 November to 31 March each year, works very well: payments are made automatically; current arrangements are sensible, responsive, and are based on the best scientific information from the Meteorological Office. Extra help is focused on the most vulnerable groups receiving income support, when there is a sustained period of very cold weather in their area. So far this winter, 3.8 million payments worth almost £32 million have been made.
In 1991, when the cold weather payment scheme was reviewed, we built into its operation the facility for the Meteorological Office to forecast periods of cold weather in advance. This enables the payment process to start more quickly as payments can be decided on the basis of forecasts without having to wait for seven days of recorded data. If the recorded data which follows do not confirm the forecast, the payments are not recalled. All forecasts used so far this winter have been confirmed by recorded data.