§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement indicating for each financial year since the introduction of the cold weather payments scheme(a) the total number of payments which have been authorised under the scheme, (b) the number of payments which have been authorised within each parliamentary constituency in Scotland under the scheme, (c) the total value of payments made under the scheme for each parliamentary constituency in Scotland and (d) the value of payments made under the scheme for each parliamentary constituency in Scotland. [14498]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of the cold weather payments scheme is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
182WThere was no significant expenditure on privatisation over this period.
Anticipated publicity budgets at 1994 prices for 1995–96 £ Department of Social Security Headquarters 7,532,530 Benefits Agency 6,924,340 Child Support Agency 3,710,843 Contributions Agency 3,848,675 War Pensions Agency 24,096 All publications over £50,000 related to a mixed media campaign. Campaigns listed here included advertising, direct mailing, exhibitions, publications of literature, tapes, braille, and video.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 20 March 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Cold Weather Payments.The new Cold Weather Payments Scheme was introduced in December 1986. Prior to that, payments for cold weather were made at local discretion under Regulation 26 of the Single Payments Regulations and records pertaining to payments made on that basis are not available.Statistics are currently collated on the basis of Cold Weather Payments made in the areas covered by each Benefits Agency District Office. Information is not held for Cold Weather payments made in Parliamentary constituencies.Details of the total number of Cold Weather Payments made on a national basis since 1986–87, together with the total number of payments made in Scotland during the period 1 November 1993 to 31 March 1994 are held by the Statistical Holdings Section in the Library.183WThe Library also holds information on Cold Weather Payments made on the basis of Regional Areas in the years 1988/89, 1989/90, and by Benefit/District Office for the years 1986/87 and 1990/91 to 1993/94.The totals for the current year will not be available until after 31 March 1995.I hope you find this reply helpful.