§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the total administrative cost, (b) the administrative cost for each £50 payment and (c) the administrative cost for each £20 payment, under the Winter Fuel Payment Scheme. [23349]
§ Mr. DenhamThe administration of Social Security Benefits 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 Mr. Peter Viggers, dated 28 Janaury 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is (a) the total administrative cost, (b) the administrative cost for each £50 payment and (c) the administrative cost for each £20 payment, under the Winter Fuel Payment Scheme.The information is not yet available in the detail requested. It is estimated that almost ten million payment will be made with a total value of around £200 million.The planning assumptions are that the total administrative cost of this winter's payments is to be in the region of £20 million which compares well with similar exercises.I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful at this stage.