§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment her Department has made of the costs of introducing a winter payment system for fuel instead of the cold weather payment; and if she will make a statement. [17366]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 25 November 1997]: Average expenditure on the Cold Weather Payment scheme over the last three winters was £35 million per year. If the scheme were replaced and everyone eligible for a Cold Weather Payment (around three million people) was given an automatic payment without the recorded or forecast temperature provision needing to be satisfied, the cost would depend on the level of the payment made. For example, for every £10 paid to each eligible person, the cost would be in the region of £30 million.
On 25 November 1997, Official Report, column 780, the Chancellor announced additional help of £400 million over this winter and next to provide extra help to almost 167W 10 million pensioners towards their winter fuel bills (further details were announced on 5 January). This help is in addition to the existing help with fuel bills to pensioners, such as Cold Weather Payments and action the Government have already taken to cut fuel costs and make homes easier to heat.