§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments have been paid out in the Manchester region for each of the past three years.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of the social fund, which includes cold weather payments, is the responsibility of Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 6 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of Cold Weather Payments made in the Manchester region in the past three years.Cold Weather Payments are dependent on temperature data supplied by designated weather stations. In the Manchester region, this is the Meteorological Weather Station situated at Manchester Airport. In 1993–94, the temperatures recorded at Manchester Airport were not low enough to satisfy the conditions for Cold Weather Payments.Details of the Cold Weather Payments made in the Manchester area during 1991–92 and 1992–93 are available from the statistical information already held in the Library.I hope this reply has been helpful.