§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were made in(a) December 1996 and (b) January 1997 to date. [11607]
§ Mr. Roger EvansAn estimated 1,410,720 payments were made in December. The number of payments so far in January, up to and including 17 January, is estimated to be 3,687,380.
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the weather stations triggered cold weather payments in December 1996 and January 1997 to date; and how often each station triggered payments during this period. [11859]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is as follows:
621W
Triggers Weather station December January Abbotsinch (Glasgow Airport) — 2 Aberporth — 1 Aviemore 2 2 Bedford 2 — Bingley — 1 Boltshope Park 2 1 Boscombe Down 1 1 Bracknell 1 1 Braemar 2 2 Brize Norton 2 — Capel Curig 1 1 Cardinham 1 1 Carlisle — 1 Chivenor — 1 Coltishall — 2 Crosby — 1 Culdrose — 1 Dumfries 1 — Dunkeswell 2 1 Elmdon (Birmingham Airport) 2 — Eskdalemuir 2 1 Eskmeals — 1 Flyingdales — 1 Gatwick 1 1 Great Malvern — 2 Heathrow — 2 Herstmonceux 2 — Hum (Bournemouth Airport) 1 1 Kinloss 1 2 Linton on Ouse 1 1 Liscombe 2 1 Loch Glascarnoch 2 1 Lyneham 2 1 Manston 1 1 Marham 1 2 Mumbles Head — 2 Nottingham — 2 Plymouth — 1
Triggers Weather station December January Portland — 1 Rhoose (Cardiff Airport) — 2 Rhyl — 1 Ringway (Manchester Airport) — 1 Sennybridge 2 1 Shawbury 1 1 Southampton — 2 St. Mawgan — 2 St. Catherine's Point — 2 Stansted 1 2 Thorney Island — 2 Tulloch Bridge 2 1 Waddington 1 1 Wattisham 1 2 Wick Airport — 1 Wittering 2 1 Yeovilton 1 1
§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average size of area covered by the weather stations responsible for triggering cold weather payments. [11858]
§ Mr. EvansThe average size of area covered by the 70 weather stations used in the cold weather payments scheme this winter is about 1,250 sq miles per station.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will arrange for the entitlement for cold weather payments in the Caernarfon constituency to be triggered by the temperature readings in the village of Deiniolen rather than at RAF Valley; and if he will make a statement. [11961]
§ Mr. EvansNo. Only weather stations which meet Meteorological Office requirements are suitable for the cold weather payments scheme. There are no such facilities at Deiniolen of which the Meteorological Office is aware or which meet its requirements.