§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total of severe weather payments paid by benefit offices within the Grimsby constituency in 1986–87; if he will break down this figure by week of payment; and if he will estimate the number of claimants involved.
§ Mr. ScottThe Grimsby constituency is situated within the area covered by the Grimsby local office, although the boundaries are not conterminous. The total and weekly number of exceptionally cold weather payments made by the Grimsby office last winter is given in the table Figures are not available for the number of individuals receiving payment but the great majority of successful claimants will have received £5 in respect of each of the two weeks for which help was available in the Grimsby area. The number of successful claimants is therefore approximately half the total number of £5 payments made.
Number of exceptionally cold weather payments made by the Grimsby local office by week of payment in the winter of 1986/87. Payment made in week ending Number of £5 weekly payments made 20 January 1987 155 27 January 1987 4,174 3 February 1987 2,005 10 February 1987 852 17 February 1987 279 24 February 1987 304 3 March 1987 103 10 March 1987 50 17 March 1987 76 24 March 1987 74 31 March 1987 38 7 April 1987 54 14 April 1987 36 21 April 1987 2 28 April 1987 4 TOTAL 8,206