§ Mr. McKelveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households in the benefits agency district covering Kilmarnock and Loudoun qualify for payment under the cold weather scheme.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from M. Bichard to Mr. William McKelvey, dated 24 November 1992:
694WAs Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many households in the Benefits Agency District covering Kilmarnock and Louden qualify for payment under the cold weather scheme.
Kilmarnock and Louden is covered by the Agency's Irvine and Kilmarnock District. It is not possible to give an exact figure of how many customers would qualify for a Cold Weather payment except at disproportionate cost. However, based on figures for those claiming Income Support in August 1992 it is estimated that approximately 11,000 customers in that District may qualify for a Cold Weather payment should the area be triggered. Parliamentary Constituencies and District boundaries do not correspond however and therefore a proportion of these may live outside the constituency.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this reply will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were made in each region in each year since 1987.
§ Mr. ScottAll the information available on cold weather payments made since 1987 is held in the Library.