§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
In how many cases so far this year special severe weather heating allowances have been paid by the Department of Health and Social Security and what was the average payment.
§ Lord GlenarthurThe information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Local social security offices are keeping records of the number and cost of payments made. When the period during which payments could be made is over, local offices will be asked to make a return so that the total number of payments made this winter and the cost can be ascertained.