§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what entitlement constituents in Stoke-on-Trent, North have to cold weather payments in respect of(a) January and (b) February.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of the cold weather payment scheme 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 Ms Joan Walley, dated 14 March 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Cold Weather Payments.Persons become entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if for any part of a period of cold weather they are entitled to Income Support which includes one of the following:an amount for a dependent child under five ora Pensioner, Higher Pensioner. Enhanced Pensioner, Disability. Severe Disability or Disabled Child Premium.A period of cold weather is defined as a period of seven consecutive days when the average temperature in a local area is forecast or recorded to be 0°C or below.Sixty meteorological weather stations in the UK are each linked to a set of postcodes. The Parliamentary constituency of 604W Stoke-on-Trent North is in the area covered by the Benefits Agency District of North Staffordshire. The weather stations linked to postcodes in that district are Manchester Airport. Shawbury, Watnall and Wilsden. None of these weather stations returned forecast or recorded periods of cold weather in January or February and therefore no Cold Weather Payments were paid to people in that area during that period.I hope you find this reply helpful.