§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans the Government have to publicise the changes to the cold weather payment system announced last June.
§ Mr. ScottOn 14 June we announced major improvements to the cold weather payments scheme including automatic payment, removal of the need to make a claim, abolition of the capital rule and introduction of a forward trigger. On 23 July we announced improvements to the weather station linkages. All these improvements were publicised again at the launch of the "Keep Warm Keep Well" campaign on 16 October. Each Benefits Agency district office will place announcements in the local press informing people when payments are to be made under the scheme.