§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who have to make a claim for the 2002–03 winter fuel payment before the 30 March cut-off date; and of that number how many have yet to do so. [99955]
§ Mr. McCartneyI refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 17 December 2002,Official Report, column 607W.
However, further to that answer, I would like to clarify the figures provided. They included written requests for claim forms. As at 28 February 2003, some 205,000 actual claim forms had been received.
It is up to an individual to decide whether or not to make a claim.