Winter Fuel Payments (Hansard, 25 May 2004)

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire of 30 April 2004,Official Report, columns 1370–71W, on winter fuel payments disallowed because of late application, if he will update the table to include late claim disallowances made in respect of winter 2003–04. [172961]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The figures for previous years given in the table have not changed. So far for this winter 2003–04 we have received 646 claims for a Winter Fuel Payment after the deadline for claiming of 30th March 2004.
1592W

§ Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments were disallowed because of late application in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 in each Greater London borough. [173335]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The information requested is not available as figures are not kept for individual constituencies or boroughs. Overall figures of late claim disallowances for Winter Fuel Payments in Great Britain are in the following table.

Late Claim Disallowances Made

2001–2002 10,308 in respect of winter 2000–2001

2002–2003 1,745 in respect of winter 2000–2001

4,564 in respect of winter 2001–2002

2003–2004 1,760 in respect of winter 2000–2001

2,204 in respect of winter 2001–2002

3,948 in respect of winter 2002–2003

§ Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the deadlines for applications for winter fuel payments were in(a) 2001–02 and (b)2002–03. [173336]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The majority of payments were made automatically without the need to claim. The deadlines for Winter Fuel Payment applications to be received by the Department for winters 2001–02 and 2002–03 were 30 March 2002 and the 30 March 2003 respectively where claims were required.

§ John Thurso
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants for winter fuel payments in Scotland were disallowed because of late application in(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04. [174021]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The information is not available.
Data about where unsuccessful claimants lived at the time has not been retained.

	Late Claim Disallowances Made
2001–2002	10,308 in respect of winter 2000–2001
2002–2003	1,745 in respect of winter 2000–2001
	4,564 in respect of winter 2001–2002
2003–2004	1,760 in respect of winter 2000–2001
	2,204 in respect of winter 2001–2002
	3,948 in respect of winter 2002–2003