§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the administrative costs of the additional fuel payments to pensioners in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [26468]
§ Mr. DenhamWinter Fuel Payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. This is the first time any Government have made a payment to all pensioners towards their heating costs.
This is a enormous and unprecedented exercise, involving the making of around ten million payments to over seven million pensioner households at a total cost of around £200 million. Legislation has only been made for this winter's payments. We expect the scheme to be broadly similar for next winter but want to learn any lesson from the delivery of this winter's payments, before making amending legislation.
748WThe administration of Social Security Benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 17 February 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding what estimate has been made of the administrative costs of the additional fuel payments to pensioners in (a) 1997/98 and (b) 1998/99.The information is not yet available in the detail requested. It is estimated that almost ten million payments will be made with a total value of around £200 million.The current planning assumptions have estimated that the total administration cost of the 1997/98 exercise will be in the region of £20 million. This compares well with similar exercises.Planning assumptions for the 1998–99 exercise are still being developed. The process of making payments to eligible pensioners may differ from the methods used for 1997–98. Estimates of administration costs are therefore not currently available.I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful at this stage.
§ Mr. BradshawTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much additional money pensioners in Exeter have received as a result of winter fuel payments; [27658]
(2) how many pensioner households in Exeter will receive (a) £50 and (b) £20 in winter fuel payments. [27659]
§ Mr. DenhamWinter Fuel Payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government have taken to help vulnerable people, especially the elderly, keep warm in the winter. This is the first time any Government have made a payment to all pensioners towards their heating costs.
This is a enormous and unprecedented exercise, involving the making of around ten million payments to over seven million pensioner households at a total cost of around £200 million.
The administration of Social Security Benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Ben Bradshaw, dated 17 February 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how much additional money pensioners in Exeter have received as a result of Winter Fuel Payments and; how many pensioner households in Exeter will receive (a) £50 and (b) £20 in winter fuel payments.Priority has been given to issuing payments to the poorest pensioners, those who are receiving Income Support. All those payments of £50 have now been issued.The number of £50 Winter Fuel Payments made for the area covered by the Benefits Agency office of Exeter was 6,902. This equates to a total of £345,100 paid.Winter Fuel Payments of £20 and £10 to other eligible pensioners will start being issued in March 1998. Nationally it is estimated that over 3 million payments will be issued for £20 and almost 5 million for £10 but we are unable to report on how many are expected to be made in Exeter.Thank you for the opportunity to explain the position.