§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are(a) the total costs of administering the cold weather payment scheme and (b) the annual value of the contract with Meteorological Office for forecasting in respect of the scheme; and what proportion of the total budget for the scheme each of these sums represented in 1994–95. [18301]
§ Mr. Roger EvansA detailed breakdown of the administration costs of the cold weather payment scheme
Percentage by which retirement pension uprated (Column A) Percentage by which income support uprated (Column B) Amount by which retirement pension increased (Column C) Amount by which income support increased (Column D) Column D as a percentage of column C (Column E) 1995 2.2 1.8 £1.25 £1.15 92 per cent. 1996 3.9 3.0 £2.30 £1.95 85 per cent. 1. Amounts are for a single pensioner aged under 75 who is not disabled.
2. Figures in column E are to the nearest whole number.