§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he will now authorise a severe weather fuel payment to those on supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe, chief adjudication officer has today decided to advise local adjudication officers that for the past week the conditions for the award of payments under single payments regulation 26 on the grounds of exceptionally severe weather have been satisfied in two64W weather station areas covering East Anglia and parts of southern England. This advice is based on the criteria published in paragraphs 7426–7459 and Appendix 19 of the S Manual (a copy of which is in the Library), and on temperature data just obtained from the Meteorological Office. People eligible for supplementary benefit may therefore be entitled to payments towards the cost of extra fuel they have had to use because of the cold weather. We are publicising the help which is available, and leaflets explaining how to claim can be obtained from local social security offices. Decisions on whether individuals are entitled to such payments are a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities.