§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the £1,700,000 made available in 1985 to supplementary benefit claimants for exceptionally severe weather payments was paid to claimants registered at offices of his Department in the Wolverhampton area; and how many claimants in the same area qualified for such benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonA total of £20,888 was paid to claimants by the Wolverhampton north and south local offices in 1985, in respect of extra fuel used during a period of exceptionally severe weather. The total number of payments made was 2,224.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates is the administrative cost for every £1 paid in exceptionally severe weather benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonWe do not have information for this year. Last year some £1.7 million was spent in benefit payments at a further administrative cost of over £1 million.