HC Deb 24 January 1997 vol 288 cc772-3W
Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what account is taken on the level of house insulation in calculating cold weather payments. [12060]

Mr. Roger Evans

The Department of Environment has provided grants to low income households for home insulation through the home energy efficiency scheme since 1991. We have increased the amount for cold weather payments by 70 per cent. since 1990. In doing so, we have not taken increasing levels of insulation into account.

Mrs. Peacock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions each of the weather stations serving Batley and Spen have triggered cold weather payments in the last three months of 1996 and the first two weeks of January 1997. [11966]

Mr. Evans

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Elizabeth Peacock, dated 23 January 1997: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting information on how many occasions each of the weather stations serving Batley and Spen have triggered cold weather payments in the last three months of 1996 and the first two weeks of January 1997. The Batley and Spen area is served by the Benefits Agency (BA) District of Kirklees which includes the BA offices at Huddersfield and Dewsbury. Postal codes within the Kirklees District are linked to the weather stations at Bingley and Leeds. To date this winter, Bingley Weather Station has identified a forecast of cold weather, from 3 January 1997 to 9 January 1997 inclusive. Leeds Weather Station has not identified any periods of cold weather so far this winter. I hope you find this reply helpful.