§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many cold weather payments have been made in Northern Ireland during the current winter broken down by the station involved in triggering the payment; [14899]
(2) if he will list the cost of cold weather payments and the number of recipients of the payments for each weather station in Northern Ireland in each year since 1986; [14900]
(3) if he will list the weather stations in Northern Ireland which provide data used in determining cold weather payments. [14898]
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 11 February 1997:
I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Cold Weather Payments.There are four Meteorological Office sites in Northern Ireland which supply the data used to determine if a cold weather period has been recorded or is forecast. They are located in Aldergrove and Lisburn, County Antrim, Carmoney, County Londonderry and St. Angelo, County Fermanagh.Since the Agency was established in July 1991, the first cold weather period was triggered in the winter of 1995. Unfortunately, statistics on the number and cost of cold weather payments are not available in the format requested and to obtain this information would involve an extensive clerical exercise at a disproportionate cost. I can provide, however, the number of computer issued payments for each Social Security Office in 1995/96 and to date in 1996/97. Tables are attached showing these figures. Statistics on the clerically issued payments are not available.The total number of Cold Weather Payments issued in Northern Ireland so far this winter is 134,288 which equates to a cash figure of £1,141,448.299WI hope this explains the position for you but I would be happy to provide any further information you require.
Northern Ireland cold weather payment volumes 95–96 Computer issued payments Income support customers Social security office Number of payments Cash total (£) Antrim 3,212 27,302.00 Armagh 3,378 28,713.00 Ballymena 3,667 31,169.50 Ballymoney 2,700 22,950.00 Ballynahinch 1,184 10,064.00 Banbridge 2,412 20,502.00 Bangor 2,986 25,381.00 Carrickfergus 1,671 14,203.50 Coleraine 3,413 29,010.50 Cookstown 2,508 21,318.00 Downpatrick 1,829 15,546.50 Dungannon 4,144 35,224.00 Enniskillen 5,221 44,378.50 Larne 1,723 14,645.50 Limavady 2,165 18,402.50 Lisburn 3,845 32,682.50 Folye 7,099 60,341.50 Lurgan 3,872 32,912.00 Magherafelt 3,349 28,466.50 Newcastle 1,241 10,548.50 Newry 6,761 57,468.50 Newtownards 2,930 24,905.00 Omagh 3,789 32,206.50 Portadown 2,819 23,961.50 Strabane 4,224 35,904.00 Kilkeel 1,154 9,809.00 Shaftesbury Square 3,443 29,265.50 Corporation Street 7,579 64,421.50 Shankill 3,441 28,398.50 Knockbreda 3,938 33,473.00 Falls Road 5,611 47,693.50 Holywood Road 5,386 45,781.00 Newtownabbey 3,343 28,415.50 Andersonstown 5,449 46,316.50 Lisnagelvin 3,472 29,512.00 300W
Northern Ireland cold weather payment volumes 96–97 Computer issued payments Jobseeker's allowance customers Social security office Number of payments Cash total (£) Antrim 31 263.50 Armagh 21 178.50 Ballymena 20 170.00 Ballymoney 4 34.00 Ballynahinch 12 102.00 Banbridge 9 76.50 Bangor 29 246.50 Carrickfergus 7 59.50 Coleraine 0 Nil Cookstown 15 127.50 Downpatrick 11 93.50 Dungannon 30 255.00 Enniskillen 56 476.00 Larne 27 229.50 Limavady 3 25.50 Lisburn 16 136.00 Folye 0 Nil Lurgan 26 221.00 Magherafelt 22 187.00 Newcastle 14 119.00 Newry 42 357.00 Newtownards 20 170.00 Omagh 39 331.50 Portadown 15 127.50 Strabane 44 374.00
Northern Ireland cold weather payment volumes 96–97 Computer issued payments Income support customers Social security office Number of payments Cash total (£) Kilkeel 19 161.50 Shaftesbury Square 12 102.00 Corporation Street 33 280.50 Shankill 22 187.00 Knockbreda 18 153.00 Falls Road 12 102.00 Holywood Road 33 280.50 Newtownabbey 26 221.00 Andersonstown 30 255.00 Lisnagelvin 0 Nil
Northern Ireland cold weather payment volumes 96–97 Computer issued payments Income support customers Social security office Number of payments Cash total (£) Antrim 3,208 27,268.00 Armagh 3,916 33,286.00 Ballymena 3,687 31,339.50 Ballymoney 580 4,930.00 Ballynahinch 1,209 10,276.50 Banbridge 2,415 20,527.50 Bangor 3,144 26,724.00 Carrickfergus 1,722 14,637.00 Coleraine 38 323.00 Cookstown 5,027 42,729.50 Downpatrick 1,883 16,005.50 Dungannon 8,565 72,802.50 Enniskillen 10,253 87,150.50 Larne 1,718 14,603.00 Limavady 1,215 10,242.50 Lisburn 3,938 33,473.00 Foyle 0 NIL Lurgan 4,027 34,229.50 Magherafelt 4,102 34,867.00 Newcastle 1,298 11,033.00 Newry 6,871 54,403.50 Newtownards 3,075 26,137.50 Omagh 7,790 66,215.00 Portadown 2,954 25,109.00 Strabane 8,673 73,720.50 Kilkeel 1,163 9,885.50 Shaftesbury Square 3,572 30,362.00 Corporation Street 7,992 67,932.00 Shankill 3,446 29,291.00 Knockbreda 4,084 34,714.00 Falls Road 5,960 50,660.00 Holywood Road 5,432 46,172.00 Newtownabbey 3,544 30,124.00 Andersonstown 5,907 50,209.50 Lisnagelvin 801 6,808.50