§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what records he has maintained, or intends to maintain, on the number of weather stations which record temperatures of 0°C or less for three, four, five and six nights in any given week.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of cold weather payments is a matter for Mr Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. he will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 26 January 1994.
367WThe Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recently Parliamentary Question about what records are currently maintained, and what records it is intended will be maintained on the number of weather stations which record temperatures of 0 degrees Centrigade or less for three, four, five and six nights in any given week.As I stated in my letter to you of 2 December 1993 [OR Vol 233 Cols 811–812] data provided by the Meteorological office does not include information on those Meteorological stations which have registered an average of 0 degrees Centrigade for three, four, five or six nights. This is because 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 temperature is 0 degrees Centigrade or less.The Agency therefore, has no plans to begin requesting this information from the Meteorological Office, and will not be compiling and maintaining records relating to the information you require.I hope this reply has been helpful.