§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the amount spent on television advertising in 1998 for(a) benefits which require a claim to be registered, (b) the automatic winter fuel payment to pensioners and (c) other automatic benefits; how many television slots for advertisements for each of the above categories of benefits were purchased for broadcast in the periods (i) 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., (ii) 5.00 p.m., to 11.00 p.m., and (iii) 11.00 p.m. to 9.00 a.m.; for what reasons benefits were advertised which claimants receive automatically; and if she will make a statement. [30158]
618W
Year Grand Total Expenditure Annual Real Growth % Benefit Expenditure as % of GDP Benefit Expenditure as % of GGE(X) Admin Expenditure as % of GDP Admin Expenditure as % of GGE(X) 1978–79 — 9.3 22.0 0.4 1.0 1979–80 1.2 9.2 21.6 0.4 1.0 1980–81 2.3 9.7 21.6 0.5 1.0 1981–82 11.3 10.8 23.8 0.5 1.1 1982–83 6.4 11.3 24.7 0.5 1.1 1983–84 6.8 11.6 25.9 0.5 1.1 1984–85 3.1 11.7 25.8 0.5 1.1 1985–86 3.1 11.6 26.9 0.5 1.1 1986–87 4.7 11.6 27.5 0.5 1.2 1987–88 -0.4 10.9 27.0 0.6 1.4 1988–89 -4.7 10.0 26.2 0.6 1.5 1989–90 -0.7 9.7 25.3 0.6 1.5 1990–91 3.4 10.2 26.0 0.5 1.3 1991–92 10.1 11.4 27.8 0.5 1.3 1992–93 8.8 12.4 28.6 0.6 1.3 1993–94 6.3 12.9 29.8 0.6 1.3
§ Mr. DenhamThe Winter Payments scheme will help all pensioner households with fuel bills to pay, and give the most help to the poorest. It is an unprecedented initiative, which dwarfs any action taken by any previous Government to tackle winter cold.
It is important that pensioners know as soon as possible how much they will receive, as well as how and when the payment will be paid so that they can plan with confidence and turn up their heating if there is a spell of cold weather. The simplest and most cost-effective way to let them know that a payment will be made is through publicity. Therefore, a multi-media campaign, including television advertising was launched in conjunction with Help the Aged, Age Concern and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.
Approximately £850,000 is being spent on television advertising, in 1998, to inform pensioners about Winter Fuel Payments.
Television slots are purchased regionally according to the audience profile of programmes. On average, approximately 82 per cent. of the slots fall between 9am–5pm and 18 per cent. between 5pm and 11pm. No slots have been purchased between 11pm and 9am.
The television campaign, which is still running, has been designed to reach over 70 per cent. of the target audience with at least five opportunities to see the advertisement.
There has been no expenditure, in 1998, on television advertising on other benefits.