§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown of 25 January, Official Report, c. 400, how many people lost heating additions owing to changes to paragraphs 6 and 7 of schedule 3 to the Supplementary Benefit Regulations on 22 November 1982.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that this information is not available. The claimants who lost were those who previously received heating additions under paragraph 6—disabled persons—or 7—age-related—even though all the necessary heating of their home is provided for by the fixed charge payable to the landlord. Help is available separately towards that charge from the local authority if it exceeds standard amounts.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the colder weather, he will now authorise single payment under regulation 26 for heating purposes as was done in the winter of 1981–82.
§ Mr. NewtonThis is a matter, not for my right hon. Friend, but for the independent adjudicating authorities, in the first instance supplementary Benefit benefit officers.
194WThe Chief Supplementary Officer has indicated that he will advise supplementary benefit officers when, in his view, on the basis of information supplied by the Meteorological Office, the condition in regulation 26 relating to exceptionally severe weather has been satisfied. I understand that in the light of the information he has received the Chief Supplementary Benefit Officer does not consider that that condition has been satisfied so far this winter.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many degree days in each of the 17 meteorological offices there have to be in a week for it to count as period of exceptional severe weather for single payment under regulation 26 to be made for heating purposes.
§ Mr. NewtonI am advised by the Chief Supplementary Benefit Officer that he is making use of information in respect of 15 weather stations in Great Britain. The figures requested are as follows:
Weather station Number of degree days in a week which are considered to indicate "exceptionally severe weather" Heathrow 117 Bournemouth 118 Plymouth 108 Bristol 117 Birmingham 126 Manchester 121 Carlisle 128 Boulmer 117 Leeming 125 Finninglen 122 Honnington 122 Glasgow 125 Leuchars 121 Aberdeen 122 Aberporth 108