§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates will be the average payments for help with fuel bills in exceptionally severe weather for claimants in the areas of England and Wales which have qualified for assistance.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation is not yet available to estimate the average payment for help with fuel bills in the areas of England and Wales affected by the recent exceptionally severe weather. The method of calculating amounts payable in respect of extra fuel costs arising from exceptionally severe weather is explained in the Chief Adjudication Officer's published guidance — in paragraphs 7426–7459 and appendix 19 of the S Manual, a copy of which is in the Library. Where the period covered by a fuel bill includes a period of exceptionally severe weather, then the temperatures over the whole period of the bill are compared with the mean temperatures for that time of year. If the whole period is colder than average, then claimants eligible for payments receive help with a proportion of their fuel bills depending on how far temperatures over the whole period have fallen below the mean. Average amounts paid will, therefore, depend on temperatures over the coming weeks and on the size of claimants' fuel bills.