§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for severe weather payments were made in 1985 and 1986 to date in his Department's office in Portsmouth; and how many claims were successful.
§ Mr. MajorSeparate information on the number of claims for exceptionally severe weather payments is not collected, but a total of 861 payments were made by the Portsmouth local office in 1985. Information for 1986 is not yet available. When the period during which payments are likely to be made is over, local offices will be asked to make a return so that the total number of payments made can be calculated.