§ Ms KeebleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was paid out in cold weather payment in the years 1992–93 to 1996–97 in Northampton, North. [131945]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of Cold Weather Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.
602WLetter from Alexis Cleveland to Ms Sally Keeble, dated 25 July 2000
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much was paid out in cold weather payments in the years 1992–93 to 1996–97 in Northampton North.Cold Weather Payments (CWP) are paid to people awarded Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) (IB) with a pensioner or disability premium or if they have a child under 5, when the temperature criteria is met for their postcode. Payment is issued automatically without the need to claim.The information requested on CWPs is not available. CWP information is collected by weather station area rather than by Benefits Agency district or MP constituency areas. There are no details held of CWPs before 1995–96. The weather station at Bedford covers the area which includes the Northampton North constituency.In 1995–96, estimated expenditure for the area covered by Bedford weather station was £2,850,000 and in 1996–97, it was £1,509,000. There were four periods of cold weather triggered at Bedford in 1995–96 and three in 1996–97.I hope this is helpful.