§ Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund cold weather payments have been made in each of the last 10 years; and what was value of these payments for(a) each Government Office region in England and (b) Wales. [39525]
§ Malcolm WicksThe available information is in the table.
Cold weather payments: 1991–92 to 2000–01 England and Wales Number of payments made 1991–92 13,800,000 1992–93 12,500,000 1993–94 12,100,000 1994–95 10,969 1995–96 6,537,914 1996–97 4,543,665 1997–98 42,615 1998–99 14,512 1999–2000 97,469 2000–01 2,720,117
Leaside benefits agency district: Social Fund grants Financial year Number of grant applications Amount applied for1 (£) Annual budget (£) Amount spent (£) 1995–96 7,508 7,288,166.25 630,008 629,426.43 1996–97 7,305 7,581,050.72 630,008 628,075.05 1997–98 7,330 8,006,455.55 630,008 630,007.46 1998–99 7,340 8,240,722.22 657,214 657,207.32 1999–2000 4,027 4,826,411.49 636,976 635,852.23 2000–01 3,426 4,134,400.08 644,904 644,372.63 1112W
Leaside benefits agency district: Social Fund loans Financial year Number of grant applications Amount applied for1 (£) Annual budget (£) Amount spent (£) 1995–96 14,628 9,100,636.61 3,188,322 3,170,058.26 1996–97 14,800 9,966,148.00 3,712,051 3,629,559.60 1997–98 17,014 10,505,600.90 4,127,058 4,050,358.03 Notes:
- 1. Information before 1994–95 is only available rounded to the nearest 100,000.
- 2. Information on the value of these payments is not available by Government Office Region.
Source:
Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance Computer Systems.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is being done to reduce the backlog of those people who received the incorrect winter fuel payment in(a) December 2001 and (b) January and February 2002; and if he will make a statement. [48550]
§ Mr. McCartneyWhen the Department becomes aware that a winter fuel payment has been issued at an incorrect amount, remedial action is taken as a soon as possible. There is no current backlog.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received the incorrect winter fuel payment of £100 in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [48633]
§ Mr. McCartneyAnyone who received a £100 winter fuel payment was advised to contact the Department immediately if they thought that they should have been entitled to £200. Where it was found that the higher rate was appropriate, a top-up payment of £100 was made as soon as possible. In winter 2000–01, a total of 43,962 top-up payments were issued; so far, around 38,500 have been made for winter 2001–02.