§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those meteorological stations which have registered an average of 0 deg C for(a) three nights, (b) four nights, (c) five nights, (d) six nights and (e) seven nights during 1993; and if he will list the total amounts of severe weather payments triggered by area as a result of recorded temperatures during 1993.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of the cold weather payments scheme is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 2 December 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security, asking about Cold Weather Payments.Data provided by the Meteorological Office does not include information on those meteorological stations which have registered an average of 0 degrees Centigrade for three, four, five and six nights. The regulations relating to Cold Weather Payments define a period of cold weather as a consecutive period of seven days during which the average mean daily temperature is 0 degrees Centigrade or less.Information relating to Cold Weather Payments made up to the end of March 1993 is held in the Library. Payments made since that date are shown by Benefits Agency District, arid are attached as Annex A.A list of those weather stations which have averaged 0 degrees Centigrade for seven consecutive days during the period from the end of March 1993 to 27 November 1993 is also attached as Annex B.I hope you find this helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.807W
Annex A Cold weather payment statistics 1 April 1993 to 27 November 1993 Office Number of payments Total amount (£) Barnsley 376 2,256.000 Birmingham North West 18,209 109,254.00 Bristol Brunel 53 318.00
Office Number of payments Total amount (£) Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale 13,902 83,412.00 Cambridgeshire 205 1,230.00 Channel 65 390.00 East Yorkshire 693 4,158.00 East Sussex 161 966.00 Glasgow West 9,848 59,088.00 Hereford and Worcester 21,545 129,270.00 Leeds Riding 204 1,224.00 Lomond and Argyll 8,245 49,470.00 Mid Wales and Maelor 11,237 67,422.00 North Tyneside 5,024 30,144.00 Oldham 353 2,118.00 Renfrew 11,692 70,15200 Sale/East Cheshire 289 1,734.00 Shropshire 18,888 113,328.00 South Downs 25 150.00 South East Hampshire and Wight 169 1,014.00 West Kent 6,410 38,460.00 Wiltshire 15,011 90,066.00
Annex B Weather stations which averaged 0 degrees centigrade or less for seven consecutive days between 1 April 1993 and 27 November 1993 Aviemore Bedford Royal Aircraft Establishment Birmingham Airport Carlisle Dumfries (Drungans) Easthampstead Airport Edinburgh Airport Eskdalemuir Gatwick Airport Glasgow Airport Kinloss Leeming Leuchars Lyneham Shawbury Tulloch Bridge Wilsden