§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many householders to date have received extra help with heating bills due to the severe winter; what is the total amount involved and how much per householder on average this represents; and if he will break the figures down to show the category of claimant concerned.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 24 May 1982, c. 238–9]: The special exercise that was carried out to monitor the extent of the supplementary benefit single 148W payments that were awarded because of the exceptionally severe winter weather is now completed. The final totals are set out in the attached table.
Number and amount of Supplementary Benefit Single Payments awarded for Fuel Costs in the Period 16 January 1982 to 11 May 1982 DHSS Region Total number of payments Total amount paid Average payment £ £ Northern 20,134 209,347 10.40 Yorkshire and Humberside 23,756 315,251 13.27 East Midlands and East Anglia 22,652 313,575 13.84 London North 16,444 216,738 13.18 London South 14,621 155,188 10.61 London West 11,636 152,000 13.06 South Western 14,685 210,863 14.36 Wales 18,718 222,024 11.86 West Midlands 36,625 460,815 12.58 NW (Manchester) 17,428 198,136 11.37 Merseyside 21,821 261,441 11.98 Scotland 59,592 864,449 14.51 Great Britain 278,112 3,581,797 12.88