§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many winter fuel payments were paid out before Christmas; how many eligible persons failed to receive payments before Christmas; if he will pay £10 compensation to each person receiving payments after Christmas; if he will estimate how much such compensation would cost; and if he will make a statement. [104317]
§ Angela EagleThis winter, some 10.2 million Winter Fuel Payments were issued before Christmas 1999.
Of the payments issued, around five million were sent directly to Post Offices. For security reasons, Post Offices were advised to return any uncollected girocheques to the Benefits Agency on 20 December 1999 which would enable them to determine why the girocheques were not collected and issue replacements as necessary.
Information on those who remain unpaid will not be available until the end of January 2000.
There are no plans to pay compensation to people who may have received their payments after Christmas.
§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from pensioners who reached pension age after 23 September in respect of the winter fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement. [104368]
333W
§ Angela Eagle130 representations were received compared with the 10 million payments which have been made. This winter the qualifying week of 20 September was used to enable all those eligible to be identified and paid before Christmas.